Surface Wave Dispersion Imaging Using Improved [tau]-p Transform Approach

Surface wave dispersion imaging approach is crucial for multi-channel analysis of surface wave (MASW). Because the resolution of inversed S-wave velocity and thickness of a layer are directly subjected to the resolution of imaged dispersion curve. The τ-p transform approach is an efficient and commonly used approach for Rayleigh wave dispersion curve imaging. However, the conventional τ-p transform approach was severely affected by waves amplitude. So, the energy peaks of f-v spectrum were mainly gathered in a narrow frequency range. In order to remedy this shortage, an improved τ-p transform approach was proposed by this paper. Comparison has been made between phase shift and improved τ-p transform approaches using both synthetic and in situ tested data. Result shows that the dispersion image transformed from proposed approach is superior to that either from conventionally τ-p transform or from phase shift approaches.