Experimental study of wave propagation models for sediments by calibrated transmission experiments on laboratory scale

• Published in: IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society. OCEANS'98. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.98CH36259) Vol. 1; pp. 385 - 389 vol.1
• Main Authors: Vandenplas, S., Abdellatif, B.T., Peirlinckx, L., Van Biesen, L.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1998
• Subjects: Acoustic propagation; Acoustic waves; Elasticity; Laboratories; Marine; Maximum likelihood estimation; Mechanical factors; Parameter estimation; Sea floor; Sediments; Viscosity
• ISBN: 0780350456; 9780780350458
• DOI: 10.1109/OCEANS.1998.725772

Due to the complexity of the seafloor as an acoustical system and the huge degree of difficulty in getting accurate and proper backscattered seafloor data, it is highly advisable to first study and validate acoustic wave propagation models using sediments in laboratory circumstances. A Plexiglass-sediment-Plexiglass configuration is used to carry out a transmission experiment on fine sand. The mechanical properties of the sediment are modelled by a general viscoelastic model. An inverse procedure based on a maximum likelihood estimator is used to estimate the physical parameters of the sediment. In order to validate the model, a cross-examination by a reflection experiment is elaborated.