海底松散沉积物声学性质原位测量实验研究

分析研究了国内外海底松散泥沙的声速和声衰减系数测量的研究现状,并据此研制了海底表层沉积物声速声衰减系数原位测量系统。利用原位测量系统分别在实验室和海滩对不同粒度的沉积物进行了测量分析,得到了不同粒度沉积物的声速和声衰减系数。数据分析表明,沉积物的声速和声衰减系数与沉积物的粒径有密切的关系,粒径越粗,声速越高,声衰减系数越大。通过沉积物声学性质研究,可以开发海底浅层沉积物声学性质原位测量技术,提高相关海洋调查的速度和效率。     

海底底质声学性质原位测量技术研究

系统介绍了海底底质声学性质原位测量技术,提出了新的原位测量方法,并根据这一测量方法,初步设计制作了相应的海底原位测量仪器。利用初步制作的测量仪器在实验室内对砂质沉积物进行了模拟测量试验,仪器测量得到的沉积物声速与直接透射法测量获得的声速基本一致。在宁波近海海域进行了海上实际测量试验,获得了该测量区域海底底质的声速,验证了此测量技术的可行性,为进一步研发先进的海底原位测量仪器奠定了基础。     

声学原位测量系统在胶州湾的测量试验研究

为了能够快速准确的测量海底表层沉积物的声学参数,避免取样测量产生测量误差,研制出一种海底底质声学原位测量系统。为了检验原位测量系统的工作性能,在胶州湾海域进行了初步的测量实验分析。通过对测量结果的分析研究,验证了原位测量系统的一些工作性能,同时发现了一些需要改进的问题。     

可变角度换能器在海底沉积物声学原位测量应用的探讨

海底沉积物的声学测量是海底测深的关键技术之一,应用于海底地形地貌测量、海洋矿产资源开采和海底工程建设等。海底沉积物声学测量方法中的原位测量方法可以避免保真采样法的强扰动性和遥测法的准确度、精度及灵敏度的不确定性等缺点,如何改进原位测量系统渐成为海底探测的研究热点。通过分析现有海底沉积物原位测量设备测试换能器的工作原理,针对垂直压入方式换能器测量深度有限,提出了一种通过改变换能器压入沉积物的角度来增加测量深度的方法。在理论上论证出在不低于换能器接收阈值时,测量深度随着掠射角的增加而增加。在不增加压入深度的前提下提供了一种增加测量深度方法。     

便携式海底沉积声学原位测量系统研制及应用

详细介绍了最新研制的便携式海底沉积声学原位测量系统的工作原理和结构组成.与基于液压驱动的海底沉积声学原位测量系统相比,该系统操作简单,轻便灵活,易于吊放.2010年中国科学院南海海洋研究所“实验3”号科考船南海开放航次应用该系统在南海北部开展了海底沉积声学原位测量,首次获得该海区海底沉积物声速和声衰减系数原位测量数据.将原位测量声速与实验室测量声速进行了对比分析,结果表明二者存在明显差异,从而表明温度和压力等环境参数对沉积物声速具有重要影响.     

南黄海海底沉积物原位声速测量与实验室声速测量对比研究

介绍了海底沉积物原位声速测量方法和实验室声速测量方法的工作原理以及在南黄海中部海底沉积声学调查中的应用情况,详细对比分析了原位测量声速和船舶甲板实验室测量声速的差异,讨论了温度和压力等环境因素变化对声速的影响,研究成果对海底沉积物声速测量和预报具有一定应用价值.     

多频海底声学原位测试系统研制和试用

海底沉积物的声学特性(最重要的是声速和声衰减)以及它们与物理(包括土力学)特性之间的关系是沉积物声学中两个重要的研究项目.介绍了新研制的实时监控多频海底声学原位测试系统.该系统可测量浅表层沉积物的声速.探测频率为8,10,12,15 kHz,可根据实际情况选择发射波形、接收增益和采样长度,采样率为0.5~2.0 MHz,工作水深为300 m.系统具有倾斜传感器、8通道扩充等功能.用该系统在杭州湾测得了四种频率的沉积物原位声速.     

海底浅表层沉积物原位声学测量方法探讨

研究透射式和折射式两类海底沉积声学原位测量方法,通过分析10种海底浅表层沉积物声学原位测量仪器的特征,指出不同声学原位测量技术对沉积物声学特性测量结果的影响。比较黄海海底浅表层沉积声学原位测量数据与实验室测量结果的差异,分析原位声学测量数据普遍小于实验室测量数据的原因,指出原位测量的作用和重要性。探讨指出海底浅表层沉积物原位声学测量所需要配合发展的其他物理性质原位测量技术。     

海底底质声学原位测量电路控制系统研究

介绍了一种液压驱动贯入式海底沉积声学原位测量系统的电路控制单元的研究实现过程,以及该控制单元在南海北部海底沉积声学调查中的应用。该电路控制单元以Cortex-A8处理器为核心,集成大容量FLASH存储器,与单片机接口控制板进行串口通讯,实现对声学发射采集单元和机械液压贯入单元的可视化控制和监测。基于该电路控制单元,海底底质声学原位测量系统兼具自容式和在线式两种工作模式,可自容记录或实时采集声学原位测量单元在海底的工作状态数据、海底沉积物声速和声衰减系数等声学特性数据。该声学原位测量系统的实验室联调及南海海试结果表明,使用该电路控制单元对海底底质声学测量过程的监测与控制是有效的,对精确获取海底底质的原位声学特性有重要作用,可以促进海底底质声学原位测量系统的产品化。     

海底沉积物声学物理力学性质聚类分析研究

Stoll、Hamilton等分别从理论和实测方面出发研究海底沉积物声学与物理力学性质关系,这两类研究都是将声学性质作为独立性质从沉积物的物理性质中提取出来,以两者作为因果关系进行研究,割裂了其内在统一性.本文不试图建立声学与物理力学性质的经验方程,而是综合考虑海底沉积物声学、物理力学性质,对南海大陆坡和人陆架沉积物进行聚类研究,分析南海海底沉积物共有的性质.研究表明聚类分析方法为海底沉积物性质研究提供了一种有效的分类手段,通过聚类,得出如下结论:(1)声速与孔隙度、密度等物理力学性质存在着明显的单调相关性,可以通过某些物理力学参数来预报沉积物的声速,同时可以通过测量沉积物声速反演沉积物的某些物理力学参数;(2)海底沉积物的声速和地文单元、沉积物的颗粒成份组成有关;(3)火陆坡黏土质粉砂、粉砂、砂质粉砂和大陆架粉砂、砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂的压缩波速依次增大,切变波速依次减小;(4)海底沉积物声学与物理力学性质聚类分析研究,可以作为海底沉积物的声学探测的参考依据.     

KISAP: A new In situ seafloor velocity measurement tool

The KISAP (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources Seafloor Acoustic Probe) was developed to obtain in situ compressional wave velocity and attenuation profiles for seafloor sediments. The instrument comprises recording channel receivers, and an acoustic source, and can be attached to a corer or a probe. Here, we report experiments comparing KISAP in situ velocity to laboratory velocity of colocated piston cores. KISAP data matched laboratory data (corrected for temperature and pressure) reasonably. KISAP can be used to collect in situ acoustic data and can be effectively used to calibrate previous laboratory data to in situ data.     

Variation of temperature-dependent sound velocity in unconsolidated marine sediments: Laboratory measurements

Laboratory measurements of sound velocity in unconsolidated marine sediment were performed to establish specific correction curves between temperature and sound velocity. Cores from the Hupo Basin and the southern sea of Geumo Island were cooled and sound velocity was measured while gradually increasing temperature (from 3 to 30°C). Sediment textural and physical properties (porosity, water content, and bulk density) were measured at the same depth. Sound velocity increases with temperature for clay, mud, silt, and sand sediment, resulting in values of approximately 2.65, 2.72, 2.78, and 3.10?m/s/°C, respectively. These results are similar to those of previous studies, and differences are likely due to density, porosity, and clay contents of the sediment. Using these results, we present correction curves for sound velocity temperature dependence for each sediment texture, which can be used to correct from laboratory to in situ values to develop accurate geoacoustic model.     

Drag-type in-situ acoustic measurement system: Design,operation, and experimental results

The Drag-type In-Situ Acoustic Measurement System (DISAMS) is a new instrument designed for rapid measurement of seabed sediment acoustic parameters, including the sediment sound velocity and acoustic attenuation coefficient. The DISAMS consists of six independent acoustic probes arranged symmetrically such that each side has one transmitting probe and two receiving probes. The entire operation is controlled and monitored in real time by a deck control unit on board, and the center frequency of the DISAMS is 30?kHz. The DISAMS can record full waveforms to determine the sound velocity and attenuation coefficient in the seabed sediment. In addition to site measurements, the DISAMS can also carry out towing measurements, resulting in improved efficiency compared with existing in-situ acoustic measurement systems. This article presents the configuration, electronics, and tests of the DISAMS in detail. Laboratory tests were conducted in a sediment pool, sea trials were carried out in the Zhoushan Islands, and sound velocity and attenuation coefficient data were obtained. The test results demonstrated that the DISAMS performed well and was able to measure the sound velocity and attenuation coefficient rapidly and accurately in both site measurements and towing measurements.     

Experimental study of the ballast in situ sediment acoustic measurement system in South China Sea

The mechanical structure, the function modules, the working principles, and a sea trial of the newly developed ballast in situ sediment acoustic measurement system are reported in this study. The system relies on its own weight to insert transducers into seafloor sediments and can accurately measure the penetration depth using a specially designed mechanism. The system comprises of an underwater position monitoring and working status judgment module and has two operation modes: self-contained measurement and real-time visualization. The designed maximum working water depth of the system is 3,000?m, and the maximum measured depth of seafloor sediment is 0.8?m. The system has one transmitting transducer with the transmitting frequency band of 20–35?kHz and three receiving transducers. The in situ acoustic measurement system was tested at 15 stations in the northern South China Sea, and repeated measurements in seawater demonstrated good working performance. Comparison with predictions from empirical equations indicated that the measured speed of sound and attenuation fell within the predicted range and that the in situ measured data were reliable.     

Pore pressures in marine sediments: An overview of measurement techniques and some geological and engineering applications

Pore pressures in the seabed are extremely sensitive to any imposed stress because of the low permeabilities commonly exhibited by marine sediments. Consequently, the measurement of sediment pore pressures can be used to infer either the nature of the imposed stress (if the sediment properties are known) or the physical properties of the sediment (if the imposed stresses are known). Stresses of many different types may be exerted on the seabed either through hydrostatic forces (e.g. tidal and wave effects), or directly by lithospheric forces (e.g. tectonic and thermal forces). Several techniques for measuring in situ pore pressures in the upper few metres of sediments have been developed, and one instrument, the PUPPI, will operate autonomously in water depths up to 6000 m. Basic sediment properties and processes can already be inferred from pore pressure responses using this technique. However, further application and development could greatly enhance its capability, especially for long-term monitoring of sediment conditions. In this Chapter, pore pressure measurement techniques are briefly reviewed and problems are highlighted. An outline is given of some of the many ways in which pore pressure measurements could be used to gain further insight into geological processes and to determine some of the pertinent sediment properties more accurately for engineering applications.     

An automated full waveform logging system for high-resolution P-wave profiles in marine sediments

An automated, PC-based logging system has been developed to investigate marine sediment cores by full waveform transmission seismograms. High-resolution P-wave velocity and amplitude attenuation profiles are simultaneously derived from the transmission data to characterize the acoustic properties of the sediment column.A pair of ultrasonic, piezoelectric wheel probes is used to generate and record the transmission signals travelling radially through the sediment core. Both unsplit and split cores are allowed. Mounted in a carriage driven by a stepping motor via a shaft the probes automatically move along the core liner, stopping at equidistant spacings to provide a quasi-continuous inspection of the core by the transmission data. The axial travel distance and the core diameter are determined by digital measuring tools.First arrivals are picked automatically from the transmission seismograms using either a threshold in the seismogram's envelope or a cross-correlation algorithm taking the zero-offset signal of both wheel probes into account. Combined with the core diameter these first arrivals lead to a P-wave velocity profile with a relative precision of 1 to 2 m s^–1. Simultaneously, the maximum peak-to-peak amplitudes of the transmission seismograms are evaluated to get a first idea on the amplitude attenuation along the sediment core.Two examples of gravity cores taken during a recent cruise of R.V. METEOR in the Western Equatorial Atlantic are presented. They yield that the P-wave profiles can be used for locating strong and fine-scale lithological changes, e.g. turbidite layers and slight variations in the sand, silt or clay content. In addition, the transmission seismograms and their amplitude spectra obviously seem to reveal a correlation between the relative amount of low-frequency spectral components and the sediment grain size, and thus provide a tool for the determination of additional, related physical or sedimentological parameters in future investigations.