Wave Propagation in Water-saturated Sand and Grain Contact Physics

Abstract

Articles you may be interested inComments on "Biot model of sound propagation in water-saturated sand" [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 97, 199-214 (1995) Abstract. Measurements in sandy ocean sediments over a broad range of frequencies show that the sound speed dispersion is significantly greater than that predicted by the Biot-Stoll model with constant coefficients, and the observed sound attenuation does not seem to follow a consistent power law. The observations may be explained in terms of the Biot-Stoll model with frequency-dependent complex frame bulk and shear moduli that are governed by the grain-grain contact physics, and random motion at the grain level. In the case of water-saturated sands, the contact stiffness is dominated by squirt flow and viscous drag of a thin fluid film that permeates the contact area. Using this approach, the observed sound and shear wave speeds and attenuations may be modeled over a broad band of frequencies.