Locating Scatterers Ahead of a Tunnel Boring Machine Using Noise Correlation

Abstract

The investigation and detection of faults, fractures, karst zones, cavities, etc., is important to reduce hazardous risks, in particular during excavation with tunnel boring machines. To locate such scatterers, we propose a method based on seismic interferometry that uses the noise signals generated by a TBM. Using finite-difference modelling of TBM noise in a homogeneous half-space, we model noise recordings. We then correlate the noise to obtain non-physical scattered arrivals for various scatterer locations. We use both non-physical scattered P- and S-wave arrival times to successfully estimate the location of scatterers.