Open AccessSimultaneous Laboratory Measurement of Acoustic and Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Soils
Author(s) -
George Lindsay A.,
Dewoolkar Mandar M.,
Znidarcic Dobroslav
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
vadose zone journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.036
H-Index - 81
ISSN - 1539-1663
DOI - 10.2136/vzj2008.0139
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , soil water , range (aeronautics) , geology , shear (geology) , geotechnical engineering , wavelet , acoustics , soil science , materials science , composite material , physics , computer science , petrology , artificial intelligence
Complete sets of acoustic properties (compressional and shear wave velocities and attenuations) and hydraulic properties (the soil water characteristic curve and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function) were determined across a full range of water contents for two types of soil specimens. The acoustic and hydraulic data were collected using a novel device developed at the University of Vermont. The acoustic data were collected using a Kelly wavelet with a center frequency of 20 kHz. The measured acoustic velocities and attenuations across a full range of water contents were consistent with similar measurements found in the literature and made in rock specimens. The experimental data reported here can be used to verify analytical models that attempt to link acoustic and hydraulic properties of unconsolidated and unsaturated porous media.