StrikeForce Seismic Plate for Active-Source Seismic Surveys
Built for the Field
- Generate downward P-wave impacts and angled S-wave impacts with one field tool.
- Improve coupling in loose soil, sand, and uneven ground with stainless steel spikes.
- Reduce harsh ringing compared with bare steel strike surfaces.
- Keep the tool serviceable with replaceable aluminum strike plates and replacement spike kits.
A field-ready seismic hammer plate for repeatable P-wave and S-wave impacts in refraction, reflection, geotechnical, near-surface geophysics, and educational work. The StrikeForce Seismic Plate gives field crews, researchers, contractors, and teaching labs a practical impact source that is easier to use than a bare flat plate and more serviceable than a one-piece improvised tool. It combines three replaceable 6061 aluminum strike surfaces, ground-coupling spikes, and a bright field-visible body in one compact seismic source plate.
Why Use a Purpose-Built Seismic Plate?
A plain steel plate can do the job, but the right field tool should become almost transparent. It should make the survey workflow easier, safer, and more consistent without becoming another thing the crew has to fight. The StrikeForce Seismic Plate was built to remove small points of friction in active-source seismic work: awkward S-wave setup, harsh ringing, poor coupling in loose ground, low visibility, and worn impact surfaces.
| Field Need | Flat Steel Plate | StrikeForce Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Downward P-wave impacts | ✓ Works | ✓ Dedicated horizontal strike face |
| Angled S-wave impacts | × Generally not possible | ✓ Two built-in angled faces |
| Reduced ringing | × Bare steel can ring harshly | ✓ Replaceable aluminum strike plates |
| Coupling in loose soil or sand | × Slides or embeds in surfaces | ✓ Stainless ground-coupling spikes |
| Visibility in grass and field layouts | × Easy to miss, lose, or trip on | ✓ Bright orange powder coat finish |
| Replaceable wear surfaces | × Usually not serviceable | ✓ Bolt-on replacement plates |
One Plate, Two Sources
StrikeForce is designed to support both downward impacts to generate a P-wave source and angled hits primarily for enhanced S-wave generation. That means one compact tool can support both common source orientations without changing to a different plate or improvising an awkward setup in the field.
P-wave orientation
Use the horizontal strike face for downward hammer impacts when you need a vertical source input.
S-wave orientation
Use either angled strike face for side impacts when you want a practical shear-wave source orientation. The angled geometry gives the operator a clearer, more ergonomic target than a right-angle setup.
Designed from Experience
StrikeForce is still a simple seismic hammer plate, but the details are intentional. Each feature is there to make fieldwork, transport, data consistency, or maintenance a little less painful.
Each feature is there for a field reason: clearer P-wave and S-wave strike geometry, replaceable wear surfaces, better coupling in loose material, high visibility around the survey line, and a welded steel frame for repeated use. Everything is easy to service, easy to use, and designed to reduce fatigue while still providing solid coupling.
Easy to See. Easier on the Crew.
A seismic line can get busy quickly: geophones, cables, hammers, crew members, vehicles, notebooks, and more. The StrikeForce Seismic Plate is designed to be obvious in the field and practical for repeated hammer work.
The bright orange finish makes the source point easier to see. That visibility helps reduce time spent looking for the plate and helps crews avoid accidentally stepping on, driving over, or losing the equipment.
The separate P-wave and S-wave strike faces also give operators clear, ergonomic hammer targets. The replaceable aluminum plates provide a practical impact surface with less harsh ringing than bare steel, and the angled faces make S-wave strikes less awkward during repeated shots.
StrikeForce does not replace good field safety habits, but it does give the crew a more visible, purpose-built tool for a busy survey schedule.
Built to Be Maintained
A seismic hammer plate is a wear item. It gets hit repeatedly, carried through field sites, set in soil and sand, tossed into vehicles, and generally abused. The parts that take that abuse should be replaceable.
StrikeForce is built around that idea. The aluminum strike plates bolt onto the steel body, so worn impact surfaces can be replaced without replacing the entire tool. The ground-coupling spikes are also replaceable, which makes it easier to keep the plate ready for loose soil, sand, and repeated field use.
Available Replacement Parts
Standard Replacement Strike Plate Kit
Restores the original StrikeForce impact surfaces with one P-wave plate and two angled S-wave plates machined from 6061 aluminum.
Oversized Replacement Strike Plate Kit
A field upgrade with larger 4.6 x 6.0 inch strike areas. Useful for high-repetition work, inexperienced operators, or crews that want a more forgiving hammer target.
Replacement Spike Kit
A set of eight stainless steel spikes for replacing worn or lost ground-coupling spikes.
See StrikeForce in Use
Prefer to see the tool in action? These videos show the StrikeForce plate in field use, survey context, and design background.
Where StrikeForce Fits
StrikeForce is a practical source plate for:
– seismic refraction surveys
– seismic reflection surveys
– near-surface geophysics
– geotechnical field investigations
– active-source seismic survey training
– university teaching labs
– field camps and short courses
– crews that need both P-wave and S-wave source options
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the StrikeForce Seismic Plate?
The StrikeForce Seismic Plate is approximately 10 x 16 x 7 inches, or about 25 x 41 x 18 cm.
How much does the StrikeForce Seismic Plate weigh?
The StrikeForce Seismic Plate weighs around 50 lb, or about 23 kg. This gives it enough mass to be useful as a field source plate while still being portable for field crews, teaching labs, and survey work.
Why are the strike plates aluminum?
The strike plates are machined from 6061 aluminum. Aluminum provides a practical hammer target while helping reduce the sharp ringing that often comes from striking bare steel. Less ringing means more energy going into the ground.
What is the difference between standard and oversized replacement strike plates?
The standard replacement strike plate kit restores the original StrikeForce impact surfaces. The oversized replacement strike plate kit provides larger 4.6 x 6.0 inch strike areas, making the target more forgiving during repeated fieldwork, teaching labs, field courses, or rotating operators.
Can StrikeForce be used in loose soil or sand as well as hard surfaces?
Yes. StrikeForce includes eight stainless steel ground-coupling spikes to help the plate engage loose surface materials such as soil and sand. Field conditions still matter, but the spikes give the plate a better way to couple into loose ground than a plain flat plate. They can be easily removed if you’re working on a hard surface like asphalt or very compacted ground.
Does StrikeForce guarantee better seismic data?
No. No seismic hammer plate can guarantee better data on its own. Data quality depends on survey design, coupling, sensors, triggering, geology, processing, and field technique. StrikeForce gives you a practical, visible, repeatable, and serviceable source generation tool.
Do you support international orders?
Yes. Contact Leeman Geophysical to place an international order. We can provide a shipping quote and confirm whether the destination country can be served.
What warranty applies?
StrikeForce is covered by the standard Leeman Geophysical limited warranty. See the warranty page for current warranty terms and service instructions.
Ready for the Field?
StrikeForce gives your crew a visible, serviceable, purpose-built seismic hammer plate for P-wave and S-wave source work.
Use it for refraction, reflection, teaching, training, and near-surface active-source surveys.
