From geology to geoacoustics—Evaluation of Biot–Stoll sound speed and attenuation for shallow water acoustics

Abstract

A procedure for estimating acoustic wave velocity and attenuation in ocean sediment using a minimum amount of geological and geotechnical data is demonstrated. First, the Biot–Stoll theory is presented. Next, various asymptotic formulae for the attenuation coefficient are derived for high, low, and intermediate frequencies. These expressions clearly isolate the effects of intergranular Coulomb friction and fluid viscous dissipation on the attenuation of shear and compressional waves. Under the constraint of a minimum amount of geological and geotechnical information, a sequence of empirical equations is compiled to convert basic data, such as blow count number from a Standard Penetration Test or shipboard density, into sediment geoacoustic properties. As a demonstration, two well-known field cases, the Atlantic Generating Station (AGS) site and the Atlantic Margin Coring (AMCOR 6010) site, are examined. By incorporating the uncertainty involved in the data collection, the estimated geoacoustical parameters are provided with a standard deviation.