Elastic waveform inversion in the frequency domain for an application in mechanized tunneling

TL;DR

This paper develops a frequency-domain elastic waveform inversion method for seismic imaging in mechanized tunneling, aiming to improve geological reconnaissance through nondestructive seismic exploration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel full waveform inversion scheme using the discrete adjoint gradient, multi-scale approach, and L-BFGS method tailored for tunneling applications.

Findings

Successful 2D blind tests with different ground scenarios

Validation of the forward wave modeling approach

3D inversion performed for tunnel models

Abstract

The excavation process in mechanized tunneling can be improved by reconnaissance of the geology ahead. A nondestructive exploration can be achieved in means of seismic imaging. A full waveform inversion approach, which works in the frequency domain, is investigated for the application in tunneling. The approach tries to minimize the difference of seismic records from field observations and from a discretized ground model by changing the ground properties. The final ground model might be a representation of the geology. The used elastic wave modeling approach is described as well as the application of convolutional perfectly matched layers. The proposed inversion scheme uses the discrete adjoint gradient method, a multi-scale approach as well as the L-BFGS method. Numerical parameters are identified as well as a validation of the forward wave modeling approach is performed in advance to the inversion of every example. Two-dimensional blind tests with two different ground scenarios and with two different source and receiver station configurations are performed and analyzed, where only the seismic records, the source functions and the ambient ground properties are provided. Finally, an inversion for a three-dimensional tunnel model is performed and analyzed for three different source and receiver station configurations.