Dynamic soil sensing via horizontally-polarized shear waves

This paper investigates the feasibility of site characterization via spectral analysis of horizontally-polarized shear (SH) waves as a means to filter the effects of pore water for saturated soil conditions. Using a multi-layered wave propagation model to simulate the proposed testing configuration revolving around a torsionally vibrating loading plate, it is shown that the use of generalized Love (i.e. SH body and surface) waves as a sounding tool precludes the influence of the soil's Poisson's ratio, thus reducing the number of parameters relevant for seismic data interpretation and ruling out the existence of compressional waves. Preliminary numerical simulations indicate that the dispersion curves for generalized Love waves may be sufficiently sensitive to stratigraphic variations to serve as a basis for the development of an SH alternative to the spectral analysis of surface waves commonly associated with vertically-polarized ground motion.