MODEL PARAMETERS OF THE NONLINEAR STIFFNESS OF THE VIBRATOR-GROUND CONTACT DETERMINED BY INVERSION OF VIBRATOR ACCELEROMETER DATA

Abstract

Analysis of vibroseis data shows that harmonic distortion in the ground-force signal may exceed the primary distortions in the hydraulic system. This can be explained by the baseplate-ground contact nonlinearity created by the deformations of the contact roughness. We separated the nonlinear distortion generated in the hydraulics from that generated at the contact. We then formulated an inverse problem for resolving the parameters of the nonlinear contact rigidity, based on the equivalent model of the nonlinear source and the comparison of predicted and observed harmonic levels. The inverse problem was solved for models of bilinear contact and the contact with the rigidity smoothly varying between two asymptotic values, using data obtained on sandy soil. Rigidities changing between approximately 109 N/m in compression and 6 × 108 N/m in tension were resolved from the inversion for both models, although the smooth nonlinear-rigidity model is a better approximation. The analysis shows the adequacy of the equivalent mechanical source model used for the description of nolinear distortions in real soil-baseplate coupled systems. © 2006 Society of Exploration Geophysicists.