Seafloor Sediment Permeability and Fabric Studies In Support of the ONR-DRI Program High Frequency Sound Interaction in Ocean Sediments

Abstract

The study and quantification of selected sediment properties important to the modeling of high frequency sound interaction in ocean sediments is the long-term project goal. Understanding of the coupling of sound into sediments, of propagation and attenuation within sediments, and of scattering from the sediment-water interface are the ONR program goals (Thorsos et al., 2001). The environmental measurements research thrust is twofold. Part I is the in situ three-dimensional measurement and quantification of sandy sediment permeability. Part II is a quantitative study of the sediment microfabric, pore fluid pathways, porometry, and bio-organic components. A goal of the microfabric investigations is the development of microfabric models and related numerical analysis that describe important sediment properties such as fluid flow characteristics, tortuosity, isotropy and anisotropy, and stress-strain behavior.