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The measurement of the in situ compressional wave properties of marine sediments

The measurement of the in situ compressional wave properties of marine sediments
The measurement of the in situ compressional wave properties of marine sediments
Geoacoustic inversion requires a generic knowledge of the frequency-dependence of compressional wave properties in marine sediments, the nature of which is still under debate. The use of in situ probes to measure sediment acoustic properties introduces a number of experimental difficulties that must be overcome. To this end, a series of well-constrained in situ acoustic transmission experiments were undertaken on inter-tidal sediments using a purpose-built in situ device, the Sediment Probing Acoustic Detection Equipment. Compressional wave velocity and attenuation coefficient were measured from 16 to 100 kHz in medium to fine sands and coarse to medium silts. Spreading losses, which were adjusted for sediment type, were incorporated into the data processing, as were a thorough error analysis and an examination of the repeatability of both the acoustic wave emitted by the source and the coupling between probes and sediment. Over the experimental frequency range and source-to-receiver separations of 0.99 – 8.1 m, resulting velocities are accurate to between + 1.1 to + 4.5 % in sands and less than + 1.9 % in silts, while attenuation coefficients are accurate to between + 1 to + 7 dB•m-1 in both sands and silts. Preliminary results indicate no velocity dispersion and an attenuation coefficient which is proportional to frequency.
in situ compressional wave measurements, marine sediments
0364-9059
484-496
Robb, G.B.N.
ed4a87a1-b924-4d6b-af46-597d8fd3b642
Best, A.I.
cad03726-10f8-4f90-a3ba-5031665234c9
Dix, J.K.
efbb0b6e-7dfd-47e1-ae96-92412bd45628
White, P.R.
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Leighton, T.G.
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Bull, J.M.
974037fd-544b-458f-98cc-ce8eca89e3c8
Harris, A.
4986460f-0731-4c65-9a10-ac8ac1624e89
Robb, G.B.N.
ed4a87a1-b924-4d6b-af46-597d8fd3b642
Best, A.I.
cad03726-10f8-4f90-a3ba-5031665234c9
Dix, J.K.
efbb0b6e-7dfd-47e1-ae96-92412bd45628
White, P.R.
2dd2477b-5aa9-42e2-9d19-0806d994eaba
Leighton, T.G.
3e5262ce-1d7d-42eb-b013-fcc5c286bbae
Bull, J.M.
974037fd-544b-458f-98cc-ce8eca89e3c8
Harris, A.
4986460f-0731-4c65-9a10-ac8ac1624e89

Robb, G.B.N., Best, A.I., Dix, J.K., White, P.R., Leighton, T.G., Bull, J.M. and Harris, A. (2007) The measurement of the in situ compressional wave properties of marine sediments. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 32 (2), 484-496.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Geoacoustic inversion requires a generic knowledge of the frequency-dependence of compressional wave properties in marine sediments, the nature of which is still under debate. The use of in situ probes to measure sediment acoustic properties introduces a number of experimental difficulties that must be overcome. To this end, a series of well-constrained in situ acoustic transmission experiments were undertaken on inter-tidal sediments using a purpose-built in situ device, the Sediment Probing Acoustic Detection Equipment. Compressional wave velocity and attenuation coefficient were measured from 16 to 100 kHz in medium to fine sands and coarse to medium silts. Spreading losses, which were adjusted for sediment type, were incorporated into the data processing, as were a thorough error analysis and an examination of the repeatability of both the acoustic wave emitted by the source and the coupling between probes and sediment. Over the experimental frequency range and source-to-receiver separations of 0.99 – 8.1 m, resulting velocities are accurate to between + 1.1 to + 4.5 % in sands and less than + 1.9 % in silts, while attenuation coefficients are accurate to between + 1 to + 7 dB•m-1 in both sands and silts. Preliminary results indicate no velocity dispersion and an attenuation coefficient which is proportional to frequency.

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Published date: 2007
Keywords: in situ compressional wave measurements, marine sediments

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 41183
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/41183
ISSN: 0364-9059
PURE UUID: 8bf700dc-f660-4d22-bc69-c547ecf7faa4
ORCID for J.K. Dix: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2905-5403
ORCID for P.R. White: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4787-8713
ORCID for T.G. Leighton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1649-8750
ORCID for J.M. Bull: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3373-5807

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 28 Jul 2006
Last modified: 12 Jul 2024 01:35

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Contributors

Author: G.B.N. Robb
Author: A.I. Best
Author: J.K. Dix ORCID iD
Author: P.R. White ORCID iD
Author: T.G. Leighton ORCID iD
Author: J.M. Bull ORCID iD
Author: A. Harris

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