Application of Amplitude Ratio Profiles Extracted with Prestack Kirchhoff Integral Migration

The Z component and X component profiles of seismic waves extracted with the prestack Kirchhoff integral migration could approximate to the primary wave （P wave） and converted shear wave （PS wave） profiles under certain conditions. The relative change of their reflection amplitude reflects the formation stress anomaly and subsurface media anisotropy. The principle and method for extracting amplitude ratios were studied and the application of amplitude ratio profiles was also examined when processing and interpreting actual seismic data. The amplitude ratio profile is an effective supplementary means of identifying the stratigraphic boundary and lithology.

Calibration of P/S amplitude ratios for seismic events in Xinjiang and its adjacent areas based on a Bayesian Kriging method

Correction maps of P/S amplitude ratios for seismic events distributed in Xinjiang, China and its adjacent areas were established using a Bayesian Kriging method for the two seismic stations WMQ and MAK. The relationship between correction maps and variations of along-path features was analyzed and the validity of applying the correction maps to improve performances of P/S discriminants for seismic discrimination was investigated. Results show that obtained correction maps can generally reflect event-station path effects upon corresponding P/S discriminants; and the correction of these effects could further reduce scatters of distance-corrected P/S measurements within earthquake and explosion populations as well as improve their discriminating performances if path effects are a significant factor of such scatters. For example, as corresponding Kriging correction map was applied, the misidentification rate of earthquakes by Pn（2-4 Hz）/Lg（2-4 Hz） at MAK was reduced from 16.3% to 5.2%.

Applicability of P/S amplitude ratios for the discrimination of low magnitude seismic events

Applicability of regional P/S amplitude ratios for the discrimination of low-magnitude seismic events was tested and proved using earthquakes and explosions in Central Asia. Results obtained show that regional P/S amplitude ratios which may discriminate medium or large magnitude events well, are also applicable to low magnitude events Their performances for low magnitude events are almost as good as that for medium or large events. Statistical comparisons based on 25 P/S discriminate from the four seismic stations WMQ, BLK, MUL and MAK showed that the average misclassification rate for low-magnitude seismic events averagely was only 2 percent higher than that for medium and large magnitude seismic events.

Research on the scatter features of the PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio and the inner core boundary density contrasts beneath Northeast Asia

Quantifying the density contrasts of the Earth’s inner core boundary(ICB)is crucial to understand core-mantle coupling and the generation of the geodynamo.The PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is commonly used to obtain the density contrast at the ICB,but its applications are limited by scattered observed data.In this study,we selected the PKiKP and PcP phases reflected at the same region of inner-core and core-mantle boundaries beneath Northeast Asia from different earthquakes for the first time,and the observations suggested that the PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is widely scattered.We also compared the PKiKP and PcP amplitudes,which demonstrated that the scatter cannot be attributed only to ICB anomalies but might also arise from raypath differences and heterogeneities throughout the crust and mantle.By fitting the observed PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio,we obtained a density contrast of approximately 0.65 g cm^(-3) and a compressional velocity contrast of approximately 0.87 km s^(-1) at the ICB beneath Northeast Asia.The larger contrast values indicate the possible occurrence of local crystallization occurring at the inner core surface.

Axonal degeneration of the ulnar nerve secondary to carpal tunnel syndrome: fact or fiction?

The distribution of sensory symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome is strongly dependent on the degree of electrophysiological dysfunction of the median nerve. The association between carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment is still unclear. In this study, we measured ulnar nerve function in 82 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The patients were divided into group I with minimal carpal tunnel syndrome （n = 35） and group II with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome （n = 47） according to electrophysiological data. Sixty-one age- and sex-matched subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome were used as a control group. There were no significant differences in ulnar sensory nerve peak latencies or conduction velocities from the 4th and 5th fingers between patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and the control group. The ulnar sensory nerve action potential amplitudes from the 4th and 5th fingers were lower in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome than in the control group. The ratios of the ulnar sensory nerve action potential amplitudes from the 4th and 5th fingers were almost the same in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome as in the control group. These findings indicate that in patients with minimal to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, there is some electrophysiological evidence of traction on the adjacent ulnar nerve fibers. The findings do not indicate axonal degeneration of the ulnar nerve.

Micro-crack detection of nonlinear Lamb wave propagation in three-dimensional plates with mixed-frequency excitation

We propose a nonlinear ultrasonic technique by using the mixed-frequency signals excited Lamb waves to conduct micro-crack detection in thin plate structures.Simulation models of three-dimensional(3D)aluminum plates and composite laminates are established by ABAQUS software,where the aluminum plate contains buried crack and composite laminates comprises cohesive element whose thickness is zero to simulate delamination damage.The interactions between the S0 mode Lamb wave and the buried micro-cracks of various dimensions are simulated by using the finite element method.Fourier frequency spectrum analysis is applied to the received time domain signal and fundamental frequency amplitudes,and sum and difference frequencies are extracted and simulated.Simulation results indicate that nonlinear Lamb waves have different sensitivities to various crack sizes.There is a positive correlation among crack length,height,and sum and difference frequency amplitudes for an aluminum plate,with both amplitudes decreasing as crack thickness increased,i.e.,nonlinear effect weakens as the micro-crack becomes thicker.The amplitudes of sum and difference frequency are positively correlated with the length and width of the zero-thickness cohesive element in the composite laminates.Furthermore,amplitude ratio change is investigated and it can be used as an effective tool to detect inner defects in thin 3D plates.

Propagation of waves in an electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic semi-space

The present investigation is concerned with wave propagation in an electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solid half space. Two different cases have been discussed： （i） reflection of plane wave at the free surface of an electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solid; and （ii） propagation of Rayleigh waves in an electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solid half space. In case （i）, the amplitude ratios of the various reflected waves have been computed numerically and depicted graphically against angle of incidence. In case （ii）, the frequency equation is derived and dispersion curves giving phase velocity and attenuation coefficient as a function of wave number, have been plot- ted graphically for a specific model. Some special cases of interest are also deduced, for both the cases.

Propagation of plane waves at the imperfect boundary of elastic and electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solids

The problem of reflection and transmission of plane waves incident on the contact surface of an elastic solid and an electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solid is discussed. It is found that there exist five reflected waves, i.e., longitudinal displacement （LD） wave, thermal （T） wave, longitudinal microstretch （LM） wave and two coupled transverse displacement and microrotational （CD（I） and CD（II）） waves in the electro-microstretch generalized thermoelastic solid, and two transmitted waves, i.e., longitudinal （P） and transverse （SV） waves in the elastic solid. The amplitude ratios of different reflected and transmitted waves are obtained for an imperfect boundary and deduced for normal force stiffness, transverse force stiffness, and perfect bonding. The variations of amplitude ratios with incidence angles have been depicted graphically for the LD wave and the CD（I） wave. It is noticed that the amplitude ratios of reflected and transmitted waves are affected by the stiffness, electric field, stretch, and thermal properties of the media. Some particular interest cases have been deduced from the present investigations.

Wave propagation in liquid-saturated porous solid with micropolar elastic skelton at boundary surface

The present study is concerned with the reflection and transmission of plane waves at an interface between homogenous invisicid liquid half space and a micropolar liquid-saturated porous solid half space. The reflection and transmission coefficients of various reflected and transmitted waves with the angle of incident have been obtained. Numerical calculation has been performed for amplitude ratios of various reflected and transmitted waves. Micropolarity and porosity effects on the reflection and transmission coefficients have been depicted graphically. Some particular cases have been deduced from the present formulation.

Research on propagation properties of elastic waves in two-phase anisotropic media

With the development of seismic engineering and seismic exploration of energy, the underground media that westudy are more and more complicated. Conventional anisotropy theory or two-phase isotropy theory is difficult todescribe anisotropic media containing fluid, such as fractures containing gas, shales containing water Based onBlot theory about two-phase anisotropy, with the use of elastic plane wave equations, we get Christoffel equations.We calculate and analyze the effects of frequency on phase velocity, attenuation, amplitude ratio and polarizationdirection of elastic waves of two-phase, transversely isotropic media. Results show that frequency affects slow Pwave the greatest among the four kinds of waves, i.e., fast P wave, slow P wave, fast S wave and slow S wave.Fluid phase amplitude to solid phase amplitude ratio of fast P wave, fast S wave and slow S wave approaches unitfor large dissipation coefficients. Polarization analysis shows that polarization direction of fluid phase displacement is different from, not parallel to or reverse to, that of solid phase displacement in two-phase anisotropic media.

Reflection and transmission of elastic waves at five types of possible interfaces between two dipolar gradient elastic half-spaces

Reflection and transmission of an incident plane wave at five types of possible interfaces between two dipolar gradient elastic solids are studied in this paper. First, the explicit expressions of monopolar tractions and dipolar tractions are derived from the postulated function of strain energy density. Then, the displacements, the normal derivative of displacements, monopolar tractions, and dipolar tractions are used to create the nontraditional interface conditions. There are five types of possible interfaces based on all possible combinations of the displacements and the normal derivative of displacements. These interfacial conditions with consideration of microstructure effects are used to determine the amplitude ratio of the reflection and transmission waves with respect to the incident wave. Further, the energy ratios of the reflection and transmission waves with respect to the incident wave are calculated. Some numerical results of the reflection and transmission coefficients are given in terms of energy flux ratio for five types of possible interfaces. The influences of the five types of possible interfaces on the energy partition between the refection waves and the transmission waves are discussed, and the concept of double channels of energy transfer is first proposed to explain the different influences of five types of interfaces.

Propagation of plane waves in thermoelastic cubic crystal material with two relaxation times

A problem concerned with the reflection and refraction of thermoelastic plane waves at an imperfect interface between two generalized thermally conducting cubic crystal solid half-spaces of different elastic and thermal properties with two relaxation times has been investigated. The generalized thermoelastic theory with two relaxation times developed by Green and Lindsay has been used to study the problem. The expressions for the reflection and refraction coefficients which are the ratios of the amplitudes of reflected and refracted waves to the amplitude of incident waves are obtained for an imperfect boundary and deduced for normal stiffness, transverse stiffness, thermal contact conductance, slip and welded boundaries. Amplitude ratios of different reflected and refracted waves for different boundaries with angle of emergence have been compared graphically for different incident waves. It is observed that the amplitude ratios of reflected and refracted waves are affected by the stiffness and thermal properties of the media.

Reflected Characteristics of Interface between Ceramic and Ceramic/Metal Graded Materials on Elastic Wave

The propagation characteristics of impact waves across a planar interface between a ceramic layer and a ceramic/metal(C/M) composite layer were investigated. Two interfacial boundary conditions were considered: one was a shear coupling boundary condition that simulated a perfectly bonded interface between the ceramic and composite, and the other was a slip boundary condition that only allowed a transmission of the transverse motion and normal stress at the interface. The ceramic was subjected to an incident impact wave. The ceramic and composite was assumed to be elastic during impact. The study was based on a basic method provided by Furlong, Westburg and Phillips for predicting the reflection and refraction of spherical waves across a planar interface separating two elastic solids. Emphasis was put on the effect of the metal volume fraction in the composite, ceramic thickness and interfacial boundary condition on the reflected waves. New and interesting results are obtained that provide a very useful guidance for design of a ceramic/composite armor and of a C/M functionally graded appliqué.

Variation of earthquake ground motionwith depth

The variation of ground motion with depth is investigated in this paper, which is essential in determining the seismic design ground motion for embedded structures and pipelines. Firstly the earthquake ground motion on surface and in subsoil recorded by Hosokura Mine array of Japan and six California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program geotechnical arrays of the United States from about fifty moderate and strong earthquakes are described. Then the arrays were classified into three different categories according to their site conditions. Finally the variation law of ground and sub-ground motion with depth is established as a result of a nonlinear regression analysis of the above-mentioned data. Through comparing the features in different sites, it is concluded that, in general, the amplitude (acceleration, velocity and displacement) of ground motion are decreasing with depth and the attenuation rate is higher in the shallow strata than that in deeper ones.

The Q value variations in the preparing pro－cess of rock rupture

In this paper, the 'spectral amplitude ratio method'(SAR) , 'energy method'(EN) and 'coda wave method'(CW) are used to calculate the Q value variations of gneiss in the preparing rupture process. The obtained results show that the variation state of Q values by SAR features the shape of relative stability gradual increment to the maximum then decrement and final rupture.The variation state of Q values by EN is just contrary to that by SAR,i.e.with the shape of stability decrement increment and final rupture . The varation state of Q values by CW is similar to that by EN, its main frequency features the shape of relatively high value decrement to the minimum increment and final rupture.But to the high frequency (higher than the main frequency),the variation state of Q values features the shape of the stable value increment to the maximum decrement and final rupture.At the same time, the results by coda wave amplitude spectrum show that, when stress reaches 70% of rupture stress, the high frequency component of S wave rapidly reduces( Q c increasing); at the time of impending the main rupture, the main frequency component reduces with a large scale( Q c increasing again), this may be the reason which causes the different variation states of two coda Q values.The result of amplitude spectra of P, S(initial wave) waves also show that with the appearance of microcracks the frequency band of S wave turn to be narrow, the high frequency component is reduced quickly, i.e. the S wave spectra have different variation states with different frequeny components. That is why the Q s obtained by different methods have different variation characteristics.

Effect of inertial mass on a linear system driven by dichotomous noise and a periodic signal

A linear system driven by dichotomous noise and a periodic signal is investigated in the underdamped case. The exact expressions of output signal amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） of the system are derived. By means of numerical calculation, the results indicate that （i） at some fixed noise intensities, the output signal amplitude with inertial mass exhibits the structure of a single peak and single valley, or even two peaks if the dichotomous noise is asymmetric; （ii） in the case of asymmetric dichotomous noise, the inertial mass can cause non-monotonic behaviour of the output signal amplitude with respect to noise intensity; （iii） the curve of SNR versus inertial mass displays a maximum in the case of asymmetric dichotomous noise, i.e., a resonance-like phenomenon, while it decreases monotonically in the case of symmetric dichotomous noise; （iv） if the noise is symmetric, the inertial mass can induce stochastic resonance in the system.

Reflection and transmission of elastic waves at an interface between two micropolar piezoelectric half-spaces

In the present paper,we consider a problem of reflection and transmission of plane waves at an interface between two different transversely isotropic micropolar piezoelectric half-spaces.The plane wave solution of governing equations for micropolar piezoelectric medium indicates the propagation of three coupled plane waves.An incident plane wave at an interface between two dissimilar half-spaces generates three reflected and three transmitted waves.The relations between amplitude ratios of reflected and transmitted waves are derived which,in general,depend on material parameters and angle of incidence.The explicit expressions for energy ratios of reflected and transmitted waves are also obtained.For relevant material parameters,the results are illustrated graphically to show the micropolar piezoelectric effects on variations of amplitude ratios and the square root of energy ratios against the angle of incidence.