Abstract: A Mechanical Plane Wave Seismic Source For Near Surface Experiments

By: Mohammad Fahad Akbar and Dr. Phillip Bording

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Earth Sciences

Seismic sources for near surface wave propagation studies use mechanical devices such as a drop weight or sledge hammer. These sources typically provide an impulse at one position and then are moved to a new location and the process is repeated. Here a parallel set of electromechanical systems will be used to generate seismic waves. These waves are detected by sensors in a data acquisition system. The design consists of Solenoids attached to Microcontrollers and using Digital to Analog converter to control the actuator energy levels. These solenoids will have a source frequency/energy which can be changed. The impact of the solenoid on the ground and the time between each strike will determine the frequency of the generated wave. Microcontroller under consideration is an ATMEL part. The linear assembly of source solenoids can generate seismic plane waves by using a variable time delay, and improve the efficiency of the data collection process.

I.

INTRODUCTION

A number energy sources have been in use since 1950s. Dynamite was the choice of source for a number of years. The introduction of magnetic-tape recording and compositing systems in the 1950s made it possible to build up usable signals from mechanical impactors and similar low-energy sources by adding properly synchronized returns from a multiplicity of individual impacts. These newer sources offered economic and operational advantages over dynamite in many areas. Below s a brief description of such sources:

a)

Dynamite:

Dynamite provides energy that can be converted into ground motion. There are several disadvantages associated wit the use of dynamite. 1) In seismic operations, the dynamite is planted in sticks or cans in boreholes (usually about 4 meters in diameter) that may range from 30 ft. to several hundred feet in depth. This requires drilling the holes, which is a difficult and expensive procedure. It is difficult to use in hilly terrain where the heavy drilling equipment is not easy to move and in deserts where the water is not readily available. 2) Dynamite is dangerous to use. Any mishandling can be costly and harmful.

b)

Buried Primacord:

Primacord (an explosive extruded into a rope like form), detonating it at one end or its center, and letting the explosive disturbance propagate along it at a speed 22,000 ft/s. Geoflex source system operates on this principle.

c)

Nondynamite Surface Sources:

Such sources are mechanical devices that act as mechanical vibrator. It involves impact on the earths surface or shaking of the surface using such vibrators. Noise suppression is attained by using a combination if these devices located close to each other to produce multiple impulses.

d)

Weight dropping:

Early experiments were carried out in 1924 but use of magnetic recordings made it possible to merge impulses from multiple drops in close propinquity in order to produce from such energy sources. The first commercial system of this type was invented by McCullom and put to use for oil exploration in 1953. The source he developed is called a Thumper. A high level of noise is generated by weight dropping, mostly in the form of surface waves. Procedure involves dropping of a 3-ton iron slab, attached to a special crane on a truck hoisted 9ft. up in the air. As soon as the fist drop is made, the truck is moved 10ft. to another spot within a few seconds. Waves from each drop are picked up by the detector spread ad recorded on magnetic tape for later analysis. The main disadvantage of using this mechanism is that dropping in no way produces synchronized impacts from multiple units.

e)

The Dinoseis:

In 1962, the Sinclair research Laboratories introduced a source system designated as Dinoseis, in which an explosion of gas (propane and oxygen) is detonated inside a closed chamber in contact with the ground. The chamber is expandable so that the bottom plate, which rests on the ground during detonation, is free to move with respect to the bellshaped mass enclosing the chamber at the top. Upon detonation the chamber quickly springs away from the ground. At the top of the bounce the chamber is caught hydraulically and locked into place to prevent its falling back to earth. In normal operation, three or four Dinoseis units are used at the same time. Signals actuating the firing system n each chamber are sent by radio so that the detonation for all trucks will be simultaneous. After detonation, the trucks are moved 20ft. or so for next recording.

f)

Vibroseis:

Vibroseis is a method used to propagate energy signals into the earth over an extended period of time as opposed to the near instantaneous energy provided by impulsive sources described above. The signal was originally generated by a servo-controlled hydraulic vibrator or shaker unit mounted on a mobile base unit but electro-mechanical versions have also been developed.

Figure 1- A group of trucks to which the vibrator is mounted. Trucks are mobile and moved to a different position after recording the data from the desired location. Vibroseis was developed by the Continental Oil Company (Conoco) during the 1950s and was a trademark until the company's patent elapsed. Below is given a table of different types ot tests for different applications :

Type Impact Impulsive Sledge Hammer Weight Drop Dynamite Airgun

Main Applications Engineering enivironmental surveys

Land, hydrocarbon Marine, hydrocarbon

Vibratory

Vibroseis

Land, hydrocarbon

Problem statement: Sledge hammers are widely used for environmental surveys at the university level. Sledge hammer is used for recording the data and collecting the points from the seismic waves produced. Then the sledge hammer is moved to a new location a few feet away from the first point of hit. The next time the sledge hammer is used, the force of the strike is not necessarily the same. The whole system is prone to human errors as the whole procedure is performed by the geophysicsts physically.

Figure 2 - The low and high frequency sources. At the top is the small pointed-tip hammer that is used for the high frequency source. The sledgehammer is at the center with its striker plate shown below it. The small striker plate is not shown in this picture. Notice the tape around the sledgehammer securing the switch and cable

Solution: The solution to this problem is that why not automate the system using solenoids connected to the microcontrollers. There will be a set of four or more solenoids and the microcontroller will be programmed to control the frequency/energy of the solenoids.

Spring
Microcontroller as a Switching circuitry

Coil

Energy Source

Plunger

Earth Surface

Figure 3 - a single solenoid. When the battery is connected the plunger is up and when the circuit is open the plunger falls to the ground. Here, the microcontroller will act as a switching circuit. A set of parallel elctromechanical systems will be used. A device is needed for the project that will make the solenoids to translate at a desired frequency. Microprocessor and or a

Microcontroller are the two popular choices to for the desired implementation.

Earth Surface Reflected wave

Projected wave

Figure 4 - Multi Source Seismic Device the whole system showing group of four solenoids driven by microcontrollers. The whole system rests on a cart which can be moved to a new position after recording the data. Microprocessors and microcontrollers are, in one sense, the same thing. They all have an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that fetches and executes instructions based on the programs stored in them. These devices are controlled by software and have great flexibility in terms of their functions.

A typical microprocessor or microcontroller includes the following: a CPU (central processing unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), EPROM/PROM/ROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and I/O (Input/Output) ports with interrupt service. Nowadays, microprocessors are often used for more advanced applications because of its high processing speed and ability of handle complex system. However, they also require additional system such as external RAM, ROM and I/O conversion. Microcontrollers are typically used at what is called the "low-end" of computing since they are a lot slower compared to microprocessors. Microcontrollers are designed to target specific applications which involve limited input and output. For the proposed design, microcontrollers are an ideal choice because of their low cost, low power consumption and simplicity. Microcontroller that will be used is AT91SAM7S256 by ATMEL. Microcontrollers will be programmed actuate the solenoids simultaneously, or one by one with a certain time delay as desired by the experiment. Features involve: 256 Kbytes of Flash Memory, single plane 1024 pages of 256 bytes Fast access time, 30 MHz single-cycle access in Worst Case conditions Page programming time: 6 ms, including page auto-erase Page programming without auto-erase: 3 ms Full chip erase time: 15 ms

 10,000 write cycles, 10-year data retention capability 16 lock bits, protecting 16 sectors of 64 pages Protection Mode to secure contents of the Flash 64 Kbytes of Fast SRAM Single-cycle access at full speed

MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS: SPRING-MASS SYSTEMS A spring, that is not at its natural length, experiences a restoring force R that is proportional to the extension s beyond the natural length and is directed towards the equilibrium position. In the absence of friction, this would lead to undamped simple harmonic motion. Let us suppose that there is also a friction force D that is proportional to the speed and acts in the opposite direction to the velocity.

Restoring force proportional to displacement R = c s Friction (drag) proportional to speed D = b v Newtons second law of motion:

F =

d dv ( mv ) = m dt dt

Therefore the ODE governing the motion of the spring is

dv = cs bv dt

But v =

ds dt

d 2s ds = cs b 2 dt dt

Therefore b c s + s + s = 0 m m

The General Spring Problem

d 2s b ds c s = 0 + + 2 dt m dt m
Case 1:
b c < 4 m m
2

= complex conjugate pair damped oscillations.

at

s(t) = A e

sin(kt ) , where
2

1 4c b b , k = a = 2m 2 m m This is the under-damped case.

Case 2:

b c > 4 m m

= distinct real negative pair

s (t ) = A e

1t

+ Be

2t

, where

or
1 , 2 =
b 1 b 4c 2m 2 m m
2

This is the over-damped case.

Case 3:

b c = 4 m m

= real negative equal roots This is the critically damped case. The solution is s ( t ) = ( At + B ) e t , where = b . 2m

CONCLUSION:

The aim of the project is to make the experimental studies of seismic waves as efficient and as easy as possible, cutting the cost and increasing the accuracy of the data. The above design shall serve the purpose effectively.

REFERENCES:

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Dobrin, Milton (1976). Introduction to Geophysical Prospecting. United States of America. McGraw Hill. Geophysics Done Right, (2003). Seismic Refraction vs. Reflection. Retrieved October 8, 2007, from Geophysics Done Right Web site: http://www.enviroscan.com/html/seismic_refraction_versus_refl.html Murray, Dwayne (2007).Seismic Data Acquisition and Processing: A Field Experiment. Vibroseis trucks lined up. Retrieved October 8, 2007, from Vibrators 2-5, picture taken during a sweep. Wheels elevated! Web site: http://www.litho.ucalgary.ca/transect_info/snorcle/photos/vib.html George, Glyn (1996, June, 13). Dr. G.H.George. Retrieved October 8, 2007, from Dr. G.H.George Web site: http://www.engr.mun.ca/~ggeorge/

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