Effects of Exciting Frequency and Grain Size in Ultrasonic NDE of Concrete

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Ju ◽  
L. Weng ◽  
Y. Liu

Abstract This investigation focuses on experimental study of the effects of the exciting frequency and the grain (aggregate) size upon the ultrasonic P-wave velocity and the wave attenuation characteristics such as the peak-to-peak amplitude and dominant frequency-shift when performing the ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of concrete. Furthermore, this presentation studies the extent of wave attenuation as influenced by different grain (aggregate) sizes with or without the well-distributed embedded micro-damage under different exciting frequencies. The damage index or damage assessment of concrete is certainly linked to the reduction in the ultrasonic P-wave velocity, the reduction in the peak-to-peak amplitude response, and the increase in frequency-shift through a damaged concrete specimen. In this study, we cast concrete cylinders with five different aggregate sizes in our laboratory, including some mortar samples without coarse aggregates. In addition, small styrofoam particles are mixed into the control samples in all batches to simulate microvoids in damaged concrete. The exciting frequency ranges from a low frequency at 50 kHz to a demium frequency at 300 to 400 kHz to demonstrate the frequency effect upon the ultrasonic NDE of concrete for each batch. The grain size also affects the concrete microstructure and influences the propagation and attenuation of ultrasonic waves through undamaged and damaged concrete specimens.

Geophysics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 2193-2199 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Purnell

The velocity and attenuation of a wave transmitted through a two‐phase material are functions of the material’s composition. In physical model experiments, I used suspensions of grains in a silicone rubber matrix to reduce or avoid uncertainties about framework elastic constants, porosity, and permeability that result from using fluid‐saturated grain frameworks. I varied the composition to produce materials that are useful in physical seismic modeling. In the tested suspensions, ultrasonic P-wave velocity, velocity dispersion, and attenuation all increase with grain concentration and frequency. I compared seven published mathematical models for wave propagation in two‐phase media. One given by Mehta most closely agrees with the P-wave velocities I observed. The agreement is sufficiently close to merit use of Mehta’s model in the design of physical model materials. The observed P-wave attenuation generally increases approximately linearly with frequency. This approximate linearity leads to reliable constant-Q estimates, ranging from 187 to 16 for grain concentrations from 0 to 0.49. I conclude that relative motion between the grains and the rubber matrix contributes most of the observed attenuation at lower concentrations, whereas scattering losses become much more important at higher concentrations and frequencies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (1) ◽  
pp. 560-571
Author(s):  
Lingli Gao ◽  
Yudi Pan ◽  
Thomas Bohlen

SUMMARY 2-D full-waveform inversion (FWI) of shallow-seismic wavefields has recently become a novel way to reconstruct S-wave velocity models of the shallow subsurface with high vertical and lateral resolution. In most applications, seismic wave attenuation is ignored or considered as a passive modelling parameter only. In this study, we explore the feasibility and performance of multiparameter viscoelastic 2-D FWI in which seismic velocities and attenuation of P and S waves, respectively, and mass density are inverted simultaneously. Synthetic reconstruction experiments reveal that multiple crosstalks between all viscoelastic material parameters may occur. The reconstruction of S-wave velocity is always robust and of high quality. The parameters P-wave velocity and density exhibit weaker sensitivity and can be reconstructed more reliably by multiparameter viscoelastic FWI. Anomalies in S-wave attenuation can be recovered but with limited resolution. In a field-data application, a small-scale refilled trench is nicely delineated as a low P- and S-wave velocity anomaly. The reconstruction of P-wave velocity is improved by the simultaneous inversion of attenuation. The reconstructed S-wave attenuation reveals higher attenuation in the shallow weathering zone and weaker attenuation below. The variations in the reconstructed P- and S-wave velocity models are consistent with the reflectivity observed in a ground penetrating radar (GPR) profile.


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 2076-2082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Guang Li ◽  
Chang-Yu Sun ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Xiang Liu ◽  
Xu-Qiang Guo ◽  
...  

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. MR97-MR105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junxin Guo ◽  
Boris Gurevich ◽  
Da Shuai

Frequency-dependent P-wave anisotropy due to scattering often occurs in fractured formations, whereas the corresponding theoretical study is lacking. Hence, based on a newly developed P-wave scattering model, we have studied the frequency-dependent P-wave scattering anisotropy in rocks with aligned fractures. To describe P-wave scattering anisotropy, we develop the corresponding anisotropy parameters similar to those for elastic anisotropy. Our results indicate that the P-wave velocity anisotropy parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] do not change with frequency monotonically, which is different from that caused by wave-induced fluid flow. Fluid saturation in fractures can greatly decrease the P-wave velocity anisotropy, whose effects depend on the ratio of the fluid bulk modulus to the fracture aspect ratio. The P-wave exhibits elliptical anisotropy for the dry fracture case at low frequencies, but anelliptical anisotropy for the case with fluid-filled fractures. The P-wave attenuation anisotropy parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] vanish in the low- and high-frequency limits but reach their maxima at the characteristic frequency when the P-wavelength is close to the fracture length. The influence of fluid on the P-wave attenuation anisotropy is similar to that on the velocity anisotropy. To further analyze frequency-dependent P-wave scattering anisotropy, theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results, which indicate reasonable agreement between them.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Elwegaa ◽  
Hossein Emadi

Cryogenic fracturing is a type of thermal shocking in which a cold liquid or gas is injected into a hot formation to create fractures. Research has shown that like traditional hydraulic fracturing, cryogenic fracturing could improve oil/gas recovery from unconventional reservoirs. Research has also shown, though, that, unlike traditional hydraulic fracturing, which uses water-based fluids, cryogenic fracturing limits and can even heal damage that is near the wellbore. Previous studies on thermal shocking, however, have generally examined only a few parameters at a time. To provide a more complete overview of the process, this study examines the effects of thermal shocking with low-temperature nitrogen gas on the porosities, permeabilities, and rock mechanical properties of unconventional reservoirs. Three cycles of thermal shocking were applied to a core sample and an outcrop sample from an unconventional reservoir. Each sample was heated at 82 °C for 1 h, and then nitrogen at −18 °C was injected at 6.89 MPa for 5 min. The porosities and permeabilities of the cores and the velocities at which ultrasonic waves travelled through them were measured both before and after each thermal shock. The results strongly suggest that the thermal shocking produced cracks. The porosity increased by between 1.34% and 14.3%, the permeability increased by between 17.4% and 920%, and the average P-wave velocity decreased by up to 100 m/s. From the reduction in P-wave velocity, it was determined that the brittleness ratio increased by between 2 and 4 and the fracability index increased by between 0.2 and 0.8.


Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. EN117-EN127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae-Hyuk Kwon ◽  
Jonathan B. Ajo-Franklin

The accumulation of biopolymers in porous media, produced by stimulating either indigenous bacteria or artificially introduced microbes, readily blocks pore throats and can effectively reduce bulk permeability. Such a microbial clogging treatment can be used for selective plugging of permeable zones in reservoirs and is considered a potentially promising approach to enhance sweep efficiency for microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). Monitoring in situ microbial growth, biopolymer formation, and permeability reduction in the reservoir is critical for successful application of this MEOR approach. We examined the feasibility of using seismic signatures (P-wave velocity and attenuation) for monitoring the in situ accumulation of insoluble biopolymers in unconsolidated sediments. Column experiments, which involved stimulating the sucrose metabolism of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and production of the biopolymer dextran, were performed while monitoring changes in permeability and seismic response using the ultrasonic pulse transmission method. We observed that L. mesenteroides produced a viscous biopolymer in sucrose-rich media. Accumulated dextran, occupying 4%–6% pore volume after [Formula: see text] days of growth, reduced permeability more than one order of magnitude. A negligible change in P-wave velocity was observed, indicating no or minimal change in compressive stiffness of the unconsolidated sediment during biopolymer formation. The amplitude of the P-wave signals decreased [Formula: see text] after [Formula: see text] days of biopolymer production; spectral ratio analysis in the 0.4–0.8-MHz band showed an approximate 30%–50% increase in P-wave attenuation ([Formula: see text]) due to biopolymer production. A flow-induced loss mechanism related to the combined grain/biopolymer structure appeared to be the most plausible mechanism for causing the observed increase in P-wave attenuation in the ultrasonic frequency range. Because permeability reduction is also closely linked to biopolymer volume, P-wave attenuation in the ultrasonic frequency range appears to be an effective indicator for monitoring in situ biopolymer accumulation and permeability reduction and could provide a useful proxy for regions with altered transport properties.


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