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Velocity of sound as a function of bubble distribution in gas‐bearing sediments
Author(s) -
Kepkay P. E.,
Cooke R. C.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl005i012p01071
Subject(s) - bubble , volume (thermodynamics) , volume fraction , geology , porosity , sediment , gas bubble , sound (geography) , mechanics , bearing (navigation) , mineralogy , thermodynamics , geotechnical engineering , physics , geomorphology , astronomy
The velocity of sound in a water‐saturated sediment is controlled by the distribution of interstitial microbubbles (no greater than 60 µm in diameter) rather than simply by total gas volume. A continuously increasing gas volume fraction in the sediment is accompanied by a discontinuous decrease of compressional wave velocity, and the overall velocity reduction is only 11% at a gas volume fraction of 0.18. Neither of these observations agrees with the predictions of either emulsion theory or theory for a fluid‐saturated porous solid when modified to describe gas‐bearing sediments.