Shear Wave Velocity Profiling & Rock Mass Characterization at Pavagadh Hill Using the Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65904/3083-3590.2026.02.06Keywords:
Pavagadh Hill, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves, Shear Wave Velocity, Rock Mass Characterization, Geological Strength Index, Foundation EngineeringAbstract
Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) is a geophysical method used for subsurface characterization by measuring the variation of shear-wave velocity (Vs) with depth and evaluating the stiffness properties of near-surface materials. The prime focus of this study is MASW testing was carried out at multiple locations situated at different elevations of Pavagadh Hill to characterize subsurface rock mass conditions and to understand the variation of engineering parameters along the hill slope. Conventional borehole-based seismic testing methods such as cross-hole and downhole testing are expensive, intrusive and spatially limited in heterogeneous geological conditions. Surface wave based geophysical techniques have therefore emerged as efficient and non-destructive alternatives for continuous subsurface characterization. Among these techniques, the Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) method has become one of the most accepted approaches for estimating shear-wave velocity profiles using the dispersive characteristics of Rayleigh waves propagating through layered media. The obtained Vs profiles were used to evaluate variation in subsurface stiffness and rock mass conditions with depth at different elevations. Further, Vs₃₀ values were calculated for selected locations and the sites were classified according to NEHRP site classification criteria. Based on the estimated shear wave velocity important engineering parameters such as shear modulus (G), rock mass deformation modulus (Em), Geological Strength Index (GSI), Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) and bearing capacity were evaluated. The results obtained from this study provide valuable input for safe foundation design, slope stability assessment and infrastructure development at Pavagadh Hill.
References
REFERENCES
[1] Park CB, Miller RD, Xia J. Multichannel analysis of surface waves. Geophysics 1999; 64(3): 800-808.
https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444590
[2] Xia J, Miller RD, Park CB. Estimation of near-surface shear-wave velocity by inversion of Rayleigh waves. Geophysics 1999; 64(3): 691-700.
https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444578
[3] Miller RD, Xia J, Park CB, Ivanov J. Multichannel analysis of surface waves to map bedrock. The Leading Edge 1999; 18(12): 1392-1396.
https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1438226
[4] Park CB, Miller RD, Xia J. Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW)—Active and passive methods. Near Surface Geophysics 2007; 5(4): 255-265.
[5] Xia J, Miller RD, Park CB, Hunter JA, Harris JB, Ivanov J. Comparing shear-wave velocity profiles from MASW and borehole measurements. Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics 2002; 7(1): 1-15.
[6] Ivanov J, Miller RD, Park CB. Common-offset MASW method for near-surface investigations. Near Surface Geophysics 2006; 4(3): 173-181.
[7] Park CB, Miller RD, Xia J, Ivanov J. Passive MASW method for deep subsurface imaging. Journal of Applied Geophysics 2005; 56(4): 283-289
[8] Nazarian S, Stokoe KH. In-situ shear wave velocity using SASW method. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 1984; 110(11): 1466-1480.
[9] Stokoe KH, Wright SG, Bay JA, Roesset JM. Characterization of geotechnical sites by SASW method. Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics 1994; 1: 1-12.
[10] Pana T, Taipodia J, Philley PD. Application of active MASW study on irregular and undulated sloping terrain: A case study. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 2024; 18(7-10): 774-787.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2024.2393402
[11] Foti S, Hollender F, Garofalo F, et al. Guidelines for the good practice of surface wave analysis: a product of the InterPACIFIC project. Bull Earthquake Eng 2018; 16: 2367-2420.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-017-0206-7
[12] Zahoor F, Rao KS, Malla SA, Tariq B, Bhat WA. Seismic Site Characterization Using MASW of Sites Along Srinagar Metro Rail Alignment, Jammu and Kashmir 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6564-3_49
[13] Pawar N, Mhaske S. Measuring shear wave velocity using MASW method to reduce cost and time required in construction projects. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER) 2017; 5(7): 55-60.
https://doi.org/10.70729/IJSER171627
[14] Goh TL, Rahman ZA, Hamzah U, Mohamad ET. Application of spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) method: Rock mass characterization. Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 2011; 16: 849-858.
[15] Kausarian H. Rock Mass, Geotechnical and Rock Type Identification Using SASW and MASW Methods at Kajang Rock Quarry, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Journal of Ocean, Mechanical and Aerospace - Science and Engineering (JOMAse) 2015; 26(1): 7-12.
https://doi.org/10.36842/jomase.v26i1.429
[16] Townsend KF, Clark MK, Zekkos D. Profiles of near-surface rock mass strength across gradients in burial, erosion, and time. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 2021; 126(4).
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF005694
[17] Nelliat S, et al. Rock Mass Characterisation and Delineation of Weak Zones in a Foundation Regime Using Integrated Geophysical Methods: A Case Study from Mangalore, India. In: Jose BT, Sahoo DK, Oommen T, Muthukkumaran K, Chandrakaran S, Santhosh Kumar TG. (Eds.) Proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference 2022 Volume 5. IGC 2022. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 483. Springer, Singapore 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-3389-7_28
[18] Abdelrahman K, Saadon AB, Qaysi S. Estimating shear wave velocity and site characterization of western Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia based on multichannel analysis of surface waves. Front Earth Sci 2024; 12: 1395431.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1395431
[19] Tiwari BD. Magmatic differentiation of the volcanics at Pavagadh, Gujarat, India. Bulletin of Volcanology 1972; 35(4): 1129-1177.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596869
[20] Greenough JD, Hari KR, Chatterjee AC, Santosh M. Mildly alkaline basalts from Pavagadh Hill, India: Deccan flood basalts with an asthenospheric origin. Mineralogy and Petrology 1998; 62(3): 223-245.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01178030
[21] Furuyama K, Hari KR, Santosh M. Crystallization history of primitive Deccan basalt from Pavagadh Hill, Gujarat, Western India. Gondwana Research 2001; 4(3): 427-436.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1342-937X(05)70342-7
[22] Sheth HC, Mathew G, Pande K, Mallick S, Jena B. Cones and craters on Mount Pavagadh, Deccan Traps: Rootless cones? Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences: Earth and Planetary Sciences 2004; 113(4): 831-838.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02704041
[23] Sheth HC, Melluso L. The Mount Pavagadh volcanic suite, Deccan Traps: geochemical stratigraphy and magmatic evolution. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 2008; 32(1): 5-21.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2007.10.001
[24] Singh B, Prabhakara Rao MRK, Prajapati SK, Swarnapriya C. Combined gravity and magnetic modeling over Pavagadh and Phenaimata igneous complexes, Gujarat, India: Inference on emplacement history of Deccan volcanism. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 2014; 80: 119-133.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.11.005
[25] Sheikh JM, Sheth HC, Naik A, Keluskar T. Physical volcanology of the Pavagadh rhyolites, northern Deccan Traps: Stratigraphic, structural, and textural record of explosive and effusive eruptions. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 2020; 404: 107024.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2020.107024
[26] Dinc OS, Sonmez H, Tunusluoglu C, Kasapoglu KE. A new general empirical approach for the prediction of rock mass
strengths of soft to hard rock masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2011; 48(4): 650-665.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2011.03.001
[27] Vásárhelyi B, Kovács D. Empirical methods of calculating the mechanical parameters of the rock mass. Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering 2017; 61(1): 39-50.
https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.10095
[28] Noori KM, Alshkane YM, Rashed KA. Geotechnical and geophysical investigations of estimating rock mass properties. Iraqi Geological Journal 2023; 56(2D): 39-64.
https://doi.org/10.46717/igj.56.2D.4ms-2023-10-10
[29] Hoek E, Brown ET. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion: A 2002 edition. In Rock engineering for underground mining 2002; pp. 209-213.
[30] Hoek E, Diederichs MS. Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2006; 43(2): 203-215.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2005.06.005
[31] Hoek E, Brown ET. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion and GSI - 2018 edition. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2019; 11(3): 445-463.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.08.001
[32] Zhang L. Evaluation of rock mass deformability using empirical methods - A review. Underground Space (China) 2017; 2(1): 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2017.03.003
[33] Zhang L. Determination and applications of rock quality designation (RQD). Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2016; 8(3): 389-397.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.11.008
[34] Deere DU. Technical description of rock cores for engineering purposes. Rock Mechanics 1964; 1(1): 17-22.
[35] Bieniawski ZT. Engineering Rock Mass Classifications: A Complete Manual for Engineers and Geologists in Mining, Civil, and Petroleum Engineering. John Wiley & Sons 1989.
[36] Hoek E, Bray JW. Rock Slope Engineering. Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London 1981.
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482267099
[37] Singh B, Goel RK. Rock Mass Classification: A Practical Approach in Civil Engineering. New Age International 2011.
