Accurate GPS measurement of the location and orientation of a floating platform

Abstract

This article describes the design and initial tests of the GPS portion of a system for making seafloor geodesy measurements. In the planned system, GPS antennas on a floating platform will be used to measure the location of an acoustic transducer, attached below the platform, which interrogates an array of transponders on the seafloor. Since the GPS antennas are necessarily some distance above the transducer, a short‐baseline GPS interferometer consisting of three antennas is used to measure the platform's orientation.

A preliminary test of several crucial elements of the system was performed at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in December 1989. The test involved a fixed antenna on the pier and a second antenna floating on a buoy about 80 m away. GPS measurements of the vertical component of this baseline, analyzed independently by two groups using different software, agree with each other and with an independent measurement within a centimeter.

The first test of an integrated GPS/acoustic system took place in the Santa Cruz Basin off the coast of southern California in May 1990. In this test a much larger buoy, designed and built at SIO, was equipped with three GPS antennas and an acoustic transducer that interrogated a transponder on the ocean floor. Preliminary analysis indicates that the horizontal position of the transponder can be determined with a precision of about a centimeter. Further analysis will be required to investigate the magnitude of systematic errors.     

Acoustic estimations of porosity and thickness for thin soft surface layer of sea floor

Abstract

In some areas, the sea floor contains a surface layer with high porosity and a thickness of 10–30 cm. The characters of an explosive pulse reflected at such a sea floor are discussed. The thickness and porosity estimations for the surface layer by acoustic method are studied, and the estimated and measured results are listed.     

Two acoustic surveys of pelagic fish in Hawke Bay,New Zealand, 1980

The design and execution of two acoustic surveys of Hawke Bay in February and September/October 1980 are described. Though the resulting acoustic data were, for technical reasons, of limited value, they illustrate the information which may be drawn from acoustic surveys. Fish distributions may be rapidly mapped, not only by area, but throughout most of the water column and over time. Qualitative observations on fish distribution may be quantified. The estimation of variance in acoustic surveys is discussed in detail with particular emphasis on the problems of systematic surveys. The role of replicate observations is stressed. Coefficients of variation for relative fish density estimates from the two surveys probably lie between 5 and 30%.     

Distribution and Acoustic Characteristics of Shallow Gas in the Korea Strait Shelf Mud off SE Korea

Shallow gas in the Korea Strait shelf mud (KSSM) off SE Korea, revealed by high-resolution subbottom profiles, is associated with acoustic blanking, acoustic turbidity, seepages with plumes in the water column, and seafloor depressions. The acoustic blanking, characterized by strong, consistent top reflection and wipeout below, is most dominant. The seaward edge of the acoustic blanking zone generally coincides with the 100-m water-depth contour, suggesting that the water depth (the pressure) may control the distribution of shallow gas. The acoustic turbidity, characterized by diffuse top reflection, is a dark smear, partially blanking the data below. The seepages with plumes, characterized by vertical smearing and disturbed seafloor, are seen only along the shallowest, landward edge of the acoustic blanking zone. This may suggest that the decreased gas solubility at shallow water depths, caused by the lowered pressure, increases the volume of free gas in the sediments, facilitating the gas escape. The seafloor depressions, interpreted as pockmarks, are accompanied by cone-shaped acoustic masking, which is probably the reflection from a narrow vent of gas. The gas-related acoustic anomalies appear to occur mostly in the upper, recent mud of the KSSM. Neither permeable beds nor faults, which can act as vertical migration pathways for deep thermogenic gas, are evident in the recent mud. We interpret that the bacterial degradation of organic matter in situ is the main source for the gas in the KSSM. The upwelling off SE Korea may be an important source for the increased organic matter in the area.     

小尺度海底沉积物的声衰减特性研究

为研究小尺度海底沉积物样品的声衰减特性,作者提出了用声学探针测量海底沉积物声波幅值的新方法,对沉积物样品扰动小,两个测量点的距离可小于波长,为海底沉积物微观声衰减测量提供了新手段。作者用小于波长的间隔逐点测量了沉积物的压缩波幅值,数据分析表明沿沉积物柱状样全长的声衰减满足指数衰减模型。目前主要用同轴差距衰减测量法获得海底沉积物声衰减数据,但该方法不能辨识声衰减模型,因此不同海区的测量结果难以建立联系。对此作者又提出用声吸收系数反演的幅值比与声衰减系数反演的R值(两种幅值比的比值)作评价依据,分析了垂直轴差距衰减测量法获得的南海海底沉积物声衰减测量数据,发现部分沉积物样品声衰减的R值远大于1,其声衰减不满足指数衰减模型。在声衰减满足指数衰减模型的条件下,用Hamilton的声衰减和频率经验公式预报的南海沉积物声衰减比与作者用声学探针测量海底沉积物所得的声衰减比对比,通过对R值分析得出Hamilton的声衰减和频率经验公式可以预报南海沉积物声衰减比的范围。作者提出的声学探针测量海底沉积物声衰减的方法的优点是既能获得声衰减数据又能辨识声衰减模型,不同海区测量的沉积物声衰减比可用R值建立联系。     

Full-wave synthetic acoustic logs in porous media

In order to investigate the permeability of porous media,it is necessary to figure out the property of wave propagation in this medium. The authors calculated the full waveforms and the 2-dimensional spectrum of fluid saturated porous media,analyzed the wave propagation characteristics of different permeable stratums. From the theoretical acoustic pressure waveform received at the well-axis and the 2-D spectrum it is revealed that longitudinal-,transverse-,Stoneley-,pseudo-Rayleigh-,longitudinal mode-and transverse mode waves are different in characters in various permeable strata. Stoneley wave is sensitive to the change of permeability,and its frequency range and amplitude attenuation are influenced by permeability.     

周期荷载作用下盐岩声发射特征试验研究

通过改变恒幅荷载条件下的上限应力、下限应力以及加载速率等试验条件,基于声发射技术对盐岩疲劳损伤特征进行试验研究。试验发现,盐岩声发射信号出现在加载阶段和卸载初期,而砂岩声发射信号一般集中出现在上限应力处;盐岩疲劳寿命对下限的依赖程度大于砂岩;随着上限应力的增大,盐岩声发射振铃数增多。加载速率的提高会加速盐岩的疲劳破坏。通过对比声发射振铃数累计曲线和应变累计曲线,发现两者有很好的对应关系,说明二者在反映盐岩疲劳损伤时具有一致性。最后对盐岩进行3级变幅荷载试验,发现第3级声发射振铃数比相同上、下限应力的恒幅荷载条件下多,说明变幅荷载造成的盐岩损伤比恒幅荷载条件下严重。     

不同岩石破裂全过程的声发射序列分形特征试验研究

通过对不同岩性的岩石进行单轴压缩声发射试验,获取岩石破裂全过程中的载荷-轴向变形曲线及声发射参数,观察试件破裂失稳时的破坏情况,分析破坏过程的载荷变化关系。着重对比了不同岩石的不同力学性质、岩石声发射序列的时域特征和声发射序列的分形特征。研究结果表明,采用声发射率、能率可以很好地描述岩石破裂损伤的整个阶段;计算岩石声发射率、声发射能率的关联维数,可得出岩石破裂过程的声发射序列具有分形特征;岩石破裂过程的声发射分维值D反映了岩石内部微裂隙的统计演化规律;不同岩性的岩石破裂过程的声发射参数序列的分形特征具有一定的共性;归纳总结出岩体声发射序列分维曲线的演化模式,即波动→持续下降演化模式,提出可以将分维值的持续下降作为岩体破裂失稳的前兆。     

基于小波变换的岩石声发射信号互相关分析及时延估计

声发射全波形采集为基于波形分析的声源定位方法提供了可能。声发射源定位方法中最常用的是时差定位方法,因此,时差获取精确与否直接影响定位的精度。借助于小波变换和互相关技术研究声发射信号的时延估计,首先利用小波分析技术对信号进行分解,确定有意义信号的频带宽度,再提取分解后的相应频带的小波系数,利用互相关技术计算出该频带信号到达各传感器的时差,进而利用时差定位法反演声发射源,实现了声发射源更精确的定位。经声发射监测验证结果表明,该时延估计方法能有效地减小声发射源定位的误差,提高声发射源的定位精度,为准确反演声发射源提供了一种有效途径。     

北山花岗岩热破裂室内模拟试验研究

岩石热破裂是高放废物地质处置工程中需深入研究的课题。对我国高放废物重点预选场址甘肃北山的花岗岩开展室内热破裂模拟试验研究,采用多通道温度测试仪、声发射、波速层析成像和数码显微镜等手段研究了该花岗岩热破裂过程。试验表明,（1）热破裂从试件端部开始产生,逐步向内缓慢扩展,表现出分段性和独立性;（2）根据声发射撞击率可将热破裂可分为稳定热损伤、宏观裂纹形成、宏观裂纹扩展、裂纹冷却闭合4个阶段,声发射定位的时空演化规律清楚地揭示了裂纹从试件上端部向内部扩展的规律;（3）波速层析成像指示了宏观裂纹位置及高温对岩石造成显著损伤的区域,热应力产生的损伤集中在试件边界,范围小,损伤严重,高温造成的损伤集中在钻孔附近高温区,范围较大,损伤略轻微;（4）监测多通道温度,获得了试件内的温度场并为数值模拟参数选取提供验证,采用有限元程序进行了热力耦合数值模拟,从机制上初步解释了热破裂现象,研究认为综合声发射实时监测热破裂过程和波速层析成像能实现对热损伤的量化的特性可实现岩石热破裂的动态监测和损伤量化,为今后地下实验室相关试验的开展和认识高放废物处置长期稳定性做了有意义的探索。