Can the seismic wave attenuation characteristics of various soils be identified using distributed acoustic sensing?

Seismic waves exhibit distinct attenuation characteristics that are contingent upon the medium they traverse. The attenuation characteristics can be employed to monitor engineering activities, such as detecting gas pipeline leaks and third-party intrusions, by the utilization of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. This study aims to explore the feasibility of identifying the seismic wave attenuation characteristics of different soils using DAS. A circular experimental pit with a diameter of 1 m was designed to measure the responses of various soils. Seismic waves were recorded while propagating through sand and clay under different overlying pressure conditions, encompassing both dry and wet states. The waveform data, collected at various distance from the point of excitation, were analyzed using Power Spectral Density (PSD), Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), and quality factor analysis. The energy attenuation amplitude of seismic waves shows an opposite pattern in sand and clay as water content increased. By utilizing the seismic wave attenuation characteristics, it is possible to issue timely warnings for identifying third-party intrusions around urban underground tunnels and pipelines to mitigate potential damage to underground infrastructure. •By utilizing Distributed Acoustic Sensing, seismic wave attenuation in distinct soils offers insights into medium properties.•The attenuation pattern of the intrusion signal depends on the soil conditions and the distance of propagation.•Sand and clay exhibit contrasting trends in energy attenuation as the soil moisture varies.•Based on patterns of seismic wave attenuation, timely alerts could enable for identifying third-party intrusions around underground infrastructure.