Modeling wave propagation by using normalized input-output minimization (NIOM)

A new method for modeling wave propagation is described here, its application is discussed, and its results are compared with those obtained using the conventional correlation and unit impulse response methods. The method uses spectral analysis by minimizing the mean square values of the system input and output when subjected to a constraint, and is effective in detecting arrival times of incident and reflected waves and in revealing their relative amplitudes as well. The method is applied to simple models and to the strong motion records obtained at the TTRL (Koto-ku, Minamisuna) and Chiba vertical arrays during three earthquakes in Japan. The travel times evaluated by the NIOM method agree with the results obtained by the geophysical measurements of S-wave velocity at the sites. The method is also effective in showing the amplification property of shallow layers at the TTRL and Chiba sites.