Insight into the modeling of seismic waves for detection of underground cavities

TL;DR

This paper compares numerical simulations of seismic waves with analytical solutions to improve detection of underground cavities, aiding nuclear test ban treaty verification.

Contribution

It presents a validated 3D numerical modeling approach using the SPEED code for seismic wave analysis related to underground cavity detection.

Findings

Numerical simulations closely match analytical solutions.

The approach enhances detection capabilities for underground cavities.

Supports development of analysis techniques for nuclear test monitoring.

Abstract

Motivated by the need to detect an underground cavity within the procedure of an On-Site-Inspection (OSI), of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, the aim of this paper is to present results on the comparison of our numerical simulations with an analytic solution. The accurate numerical modeling can facilitate the development of proper analysis techniques to detect the remnants of an underground nuclear test. The larger goal is to help set a rigorous scientific base of OSI and to contribute to bringing the Treaty into force. For our 3D numerical simulations, we use the discontinuous Galerkin Spectral Element Code SPEED jointly developed at MOX (The Laboratory for Modeling and Scientific Computing, Department of Mathematics) and at DICA (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) of the Politecnico di Milano.