Development of in situ marine seismic and geotechnical instrumentation systems

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6135193

Reece, E W; Ryerson, D E; Kestly, J D; McNeill, R L

A unique pair of in-situ marine geotechnical instrumentation systems, capable of operating unattended for extended periods of time in remote locations, have been designed, fabricated, and are currently undergoing testing. The Seafloor Earthquake Measurement System (SEMS) measures the response of marine sediments to strong and moderate seismic activity. The Geotechnically Instrumented Seafloor Probe (GISP) measures the in-situ pore pressure in soft marine clays. The two systems have many common characteristics. Both systems consist of two principal subsystems: a seafloor data-gathering package and a shipboard command and recording package. The seafloor packages are totally self-contained and incorporate microprocessor-based electronics which control data collection, processing, and storage. Data collected and stored by the seafloor packages are transmitted on command to the command and recording package via a high-data-rate acoustic telemetry system. This paper describes the design, development and testing of the Seafloor Earthquake Measurement System and the Geotechnically Instrumented Seafloor Probe. Data are presented and discussed. Advanced concepts for future marine geotechnical instruments are discussed.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 6135193
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-0036C; CONF-790833-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440300* -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
58 GEOSCIENCES
580203 -- Geophysics-- Geophysical Survey Methods-- (1980-1989)
DESIGN
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROPROCESSORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PROBES
RECORDING SYSTEMS
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
SEISMIC ARRAYS
SEISMIC DETECTORS
SOIL MECHANICS
TESTING