The multichannel analysis of surface waves method (MASW) is a nondestructive seismic method to evaluate pavement thickness as well as to evaluate linear elastic modulus of the ground and the materials under the pavement.
It analyzes dispersion properties of certain types of seismic surface waves (fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves) propagating horizontally along the surface of measurement directly from impact point to receivers. It gives this shear-wave velocity (Vs) (or stiffness) information in either 1-D (depth) or 2-D (depth and surface location) format in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. The main advantage with the MASW method is to take a full account of the complicated nature of seismic waves that always contain harmful noise waves such as higher modes of surface waves, body waves, scattered waves, traffic waves, etc. These noise waves may result in a significant portion of the recorded data being dubious if not properly accounted for.
The fundamental framework of the MASW method is based on the multichannel recording and analysis approach long used in seismic exploration surveys. These techniques can discriminate useful signal against all other types of noise by utilizing pattern-recognition techniques.
