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T. Asch

Publications and source records attributed to T. Asch.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Classification of MEC with the ALLTEM at Camp Stanley, Texas

The ALLTEM is a multi-axis electromagnetic induction system designed for unexploded ordnance UXO applications. It uses a continuous triangle-wave excitation and provides good late-time signal-to-noise ratio SNR especially for ferrous targets. Multi-axis transmitter Tx and receiver Rx systems such as ALLTEM provide a richer data set from which to invert for the target parameters required to distinguish between clutter and UXO. Inversions of field data acquired between 2006 and 2010 over the Army's UXO Standardized Test sites at the Yuma Proving Ground YPG in Arizona and at the Aberdeen Proving Ground APG in Maryland have produced reasonable and generally repeatable results for many UXO items buried at different orientations and depths. In February-March 2011 ALLTEM data was acquired at two locations on the Camp Stanley Storage Activity CSSA just north of San Antonio, Texas. Camp Stanley is used to store munitions as well as test, fire, and overhaul munitions components. Site B-20 is an open burn/open detonation OBOD area and Site B-27 consists of narrow trenches blasted into limestone containing buried range and munitions debris and possibly MEC. The processing, analysis, and classification techniques developed at the controlled environments of YPG and APG have been applied to these two "live" sites at Camp Stanley. ALLTEM data analysis includes both classical numerical inversion of data from each anomaly and clustering of the raw data by means of a self-organizing map SOM via generalized neural network algorithms. Final classification consists of an integration of both the numerical and SOM results. ?? 2011 Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts↗

Geophysical evaluation of the Success Dam foundation, Porterville, California

Success Dam is a zonedearth fill embankment located near Porterville, CA. Studies of Success Dam by the recent Dam Safety Assurance Program (DSAP) have demonstrated the potential for seismic instability and large deformation of the dam due to relatively low levels of earthquake shaking. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted several phases of investigations to determine the properties of the dam and its underlying foundation. Detailed engineering studies have been applied using a large number of analytical techniques to estimate the response of the dam and foundation system when subjected to earthquake loading. Although a large amount of data have been acquired, most are 'point' data from borings and results have to be extrapolated between the borings. Geophysical techniques were applied to image the subsurface to provide a better understanding of the spatial distribution of key units that potentially impact the stability. Geophysical investigations employing seismic refraction tomography, direct current (DC) resistivity, audio magnetotellurics (AMT) and self-potential (SP) were conducted across the location of the foundation of a new dam proposed to replace the existing one. Depth to bedrock and the occurrence of beds potentially susceptible to liquefaction were the focus of the investigations. Seismic refraction tomography offers a deep investigation of the foundation region and looks at compressional and shear properties of the material. Whereas resistivity surveys determines conductivity relationships in the shallow subsurface and can produce a relatively high-resolution image of geological units with different electrical properties. AMT was applied because it has the potential to look considerably deeper than the other methods, is useful for confirming depth to bedrock, and can be useful in identifying deep seated faults. SP is a passive electrical method that measures the electrical streaming potential in the subsurface that responds to the movement of ground water. SP surveys were conducted at low pool and high pool conditions in order to look for evidence of seepage below the existing dam. In this paper, we summarize these techniques, present their results at Success Dam, and discuss general application of these techniques for investigating dams and their foundations.

Conference Paper↗