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Title: 3D Moment Tensor Inversion of Underground Chemical Explosions from the Source Physics Experiments

Abstract

Several physical mechanisms have been proposed to explain the generation of S-waves from underground explosions, such as asymmetries in the source, release of tectonic pre-stress, interactions with the free-surface, spall, and heterogeneities in the Earth. An accurate description of the explosion source processes is an important step towards understanding which of these plausible mechanisms are actively contributing to the generation of S-waves and under what conditions. In this study we explore the application of the seismic moment tensor source to model far-field, low frequency (up to 6 Hz) waveform data of over-buried chemical explosions from the Source Physics Experiment, with a focus on S-wave generation and amplitude predictions. We use an inverse waveform modeling approach to estimate the source properties of the chemical explosions, and compare solutions using different velocity models. 1D and 3D subsurface velocity models are used to characterize wave propagation between the source and receiver. We also performed analysis on wavefield simulations from physic-based explosion source modeling. The analyses show scattering and phase conversion from 3D heterogonies dominate the generation of far-field, S-wave energy observed in data, and that the variability in the recovered deviatoric component of the moment tensor source model are largely a result ofmore » inadequately accounting for 3D wave propagation effects in the inversion process.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1544950
Report Number(s):
LLNL-TR-767905
957065
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Chiang, Andrea, Pitarka, Arben, Ford, Sean R., Ezzedine, Souheil, and Vorobiev, Oleg Y. 3D Moment Tensor Inversion of Underground Chemical Explosions from the Source Physics Experiments. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.2172/1544950.
Chiang, Andrea, Pitarka, Arben, Ford, Sean R., Ezzedine, Souheil, & Vorobiev, Oleg Y. 3D Moment Tensor Inversion of Underground Chemical Explosions from the Source Physics Experiments. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1544950
Chiang, Andrea, Pitarka, Arben, Ford, Sean R., Ezzedine, Souheil, and Vorobiev, Oleg Y. 2019. "3D Moment Tensor Inversion of Underground Chemical Explosions from the Source Physics Experiments". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1544950. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1544950.
@article{osti_1544950,
title = {3D Moment Tensor Inversion of Underground Chemical Explosions from the Source Physics Experiments},
author = {Chiang, Andrea and Pitarka, Arben and Ford, Sean R. and Ezzedine, Souheil and Vorobiev, Oleg Y.},
abstractNote = {Several physical mechanisms have been proposed to explain the generation of S-waves from underground explosions, such as asymmetries in the source, release of tectonic pre-stress, interactions with the free-surface, spall, and heterogeneities in the Earth. An accurate description of the explosion source processes is an important step towards understanding which of these plausible mechanisms are actively contributing to the generation of S-waves and under what conditions. In this study we explore the application of the seismic moment tensor source to model far-field, low frequency (up to 6 Hz) waveform data of over-buried chemical explosions from the Source Physics Experiment, with a focus on S-wave generation and amplitude predictions. We use an inverse waveform modeling approach to estimate the source properties of the chemical explosions, and compare solutions using different velocity models. 1D and 3D subsurface velocity models are used to characterize wave propagation between the source and receiver. We also performed analysis on wavefield simulations from physic-based explosion source modeling. The analyses show scattering and phase conversion from 3D heterogonies dominate the generation of far-field, S-wave energy observed in data, and that the variability in the recovered deviatoric component of the moment tensor source model are largely a result of inadequately accounting for 3D wave propagation effects in the inversion process.},
doi = {10.2172/1544950},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1544950}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}