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Fine Sand and Clay Sediment Acoustic Properties of the Novel Sediment Sample from the Arabian Sea: Experimental Investigations and Biot–Stoll Model Validation

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Abstract

The present study explores the physical and acoustic characteristics of fine sand and clay in novel seabed marine sediments from of Pakistan coastline of the Arabian Sea. The measured physical parameters included mean grain size, mass density, bulk density, salinity, porosity, permeability, pore size and mineralogical composition. Acoustic properties, including sound speed and attenuation, in the high frequency range of 90–170 kHz were analyzed. A controlled laboratory setup with the acoustic transmission method and Fourier transform techniques was utilized to examine the sound propagation and absorption of novel seabed sediments. The standard deviation of mean sound speed in fresh water was 0.75 m/s, and attenuation was observed in the range of 0.43 to 0.61 dB/m. The mean sound velocity in sand and clay varied from 1706 to 1709 m/s and 1602 to 1608 m/s, respectively. Corresponding average attenuation was observed at 80 to 93 dB/m in sandy sediments and from 31.8 to 38.6 dB/m in clayey sediments. Sound velocity variation within sandy sediment is low, consistent with expected results, and smaller than the predicted uncertainty. However, clay sediment exhibited a positive linear correlation and low sound speed variation. Attenuation increased linearly with frequency for both sediments. Finally, the laboratory results were validated by using the Biot–Stoll model. The dispersion of sound speed in sandy and clayey sediments was consistent with the predictions of the Biot–Stoll model. Measured attenuation aligned more with Biot–Stoll model predictions due to improved permeability, tortuosity and pore size parameter fitting.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to Dr. Tariq Mehmood, Dr. Ibrahim Zia, Dr. Waqar Ahmed, and other esteemed researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Pakistan, for their substantial efforts in the acquisition of novel sediment samples and the assessment of physical sediment properties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Underwater Acoustic Technology and College of Underwater Acoustic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Shahabuddin Shaikh, Yi-wang Huang, Ze-chuan Zhang & Habib Hussain Zuberi

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  1. Shahabuddin Shaikh
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  2. Yi-wang Huang
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  3. Ze-chuan Zhang
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  4. Habib Hussain Zuberi
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Correspondence to Yi-wang Huang.

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Additional information

Foundation item: This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12074088).

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Shaikh, S., Huang, Yw., Zhang, Zc. et al. Fine Sand and Clay Sediment Acoustic Properties of the Novel Sediment Sample from the Arabian Sea: Experimental Investigations and Biot–Stoll Model Validation. China Ocean Eng 38, 169–180 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-024-0014-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-024-0014-1

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