GEOPHYSICAL TECHNIQUES IN DETECTION TO RIVER EMBANKMENTS

Geophysical technologies are very effective in environmental, engineering and groundwater applications. Parameters of delineating nature of near surface materials such as compressional wave velocity, shear wave velocity can be obtained using shallow seismic methods. Electric methods are primary approaches for investigating groundwater and detecting leakage. Both of the methods are applied to detect embankment in hope of obtaining evidence of the strength and moisture inside the body. A technological experiment has been done for detecting and discovering the hidden troubles in the embankment of Yangtze River, Songzi, Hubei, China in 2003. Surface wave and DC multi channel array resistivity sounding techniques were used to detect hidden trouble inside and under dike like pipe seeps. This paper discusses the exploration strategy and the effect of geological characteristics. A practical approach of combining seismic and electric resistivity measurements was applied to locate potential pipe seeps in embankment in the experiment. The method presents a potential leak factor based on the shear wave velocity and the resistivity of the medium to evaluate anomalies. An anomaly found in a segment of embankment detected was verified, where occurred a pipe seep during the 98’ flooding.