Slow wave propagation in air-filled porous materials and natural rocks

Journal Article · Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Applied Physics Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.102872· OSTI ID:7094141

Nagy, P B; Adler, L ^[1]; Bonner, B P ^[2]

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1. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (USA)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (USA)

Slow compressional waves in fluid-saturated porous solids offer a unique acoustical means to study certain material properties, such as tortuosity and permeability. We present a novel experimental technique based on the transmission of airborne ultrasound through air-filled porous samples. The suggested method can be used to measure the velocity and attenuation of the slow compressional wave in a wide frequency range from 30 to 500 kHz. More important, the technique is so sensitive that it provides irrefutable evidence of slow wave propagation in air-saturated natural rocks and lends itself quite easily to tortuosity measurements in such materials, too.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER13749
• OSTI ID: 7094141
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; (USA) Vol. 56:25; ISSN APPLA; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
656002* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- General Techniques in Condensed Matter-- (1987-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS
MATERIALS
PERMEABILITY
POROUS MATERIALS
ROCKS
SOUND WAVES
ULTRASONIC WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION