Geophysical investigations to assess the extent of disturbance in excavated rock faces at hinkley point C

TLDR: In this paper, the authors investigate the potential for seismic surveys to estimate the extent of damage caused during slope excavation and to estimate a disturbance factor, and show that a velocity contrast due weathering/disturbance effects in a cliff face is detectable with an active seismic survey with geophones attached to the face.

Abstract: Initial field trials to investigate the potential for seismic surveys to estimate the extent of damage caused during slope excavation and to estimate a disturbance factor show that a velocity contrast due weathering/disturbance effects in a cliff face is detectable with an active seismic survey with geophones attached to the face. Modelling results confirm the resolution of the method and the experimental set-up is being deployed to monitor excavated faces at Hinkley Point C construction site.