Measurement and modeling of Scholte wave dispersion in coastal waters

Inversion of Scholte wave is one of the most common methods to estimate the shear speeds in the bottom. This inversion involves running a forward model, with shear speeds in the sediment among the input parameters, and minimizing the data-model mismatch. A numerical model is developed based on the dynamic stiffness matrix approach to model the phase velocity dispersion of Scholte waves in this study. The model is then validated by matching previously published results. Shear speeds in different layers of sediment are also estimated by matching the model predictions to the Scholte wave data collected in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. © 2012 American Institute of Physics