Search

To better understand the shallow sea geological information and avoid the risk caused by potential geo-disasters, the efficient offshore geological exploration methods are required. Better detection resolution can be obtained by using a spark source. As the foundation, the observation system plays an important role for geological detection. The influence of the variation of the parameters of the observation system on the detection accuracy is analysed theoretically. Then, the numerical simulations based on the finite difference method was applied, and imaging characteristics of observation system with different parameter were studied. For submarine acoustic exploration, the spark source with frequency over 200 Hz can obtain the clear reflections for geological interpretation; besides, the receiver array with the interval of 5 m–10 m helps to obtain better wave signals when the buried depth of a geological body is less than 300 m, and the width is more than 10 m. Based on numerical simulations, the observation system was optimized and designed. The results of numerical examples show that the accurate position information of the structure can be obtained by using the observation system proposed in this paper. Different imaging performances are obtained by adjusting the parameters of the observation system. On this basis, combined with directivity analysis, the optimal observation system parameters are proposed. Finally, the proposed observation system is used to image the fault model. The research results of this paper can provide reference for the observation system design in similar projects.

This study investigates the permeability characteristics of unsaturated compacted loess by focusing on the anisotropy parallel and perpendicular to the compaction. Three tests are conducted on compacted loess: permeability test, soil-water characteristic curve test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) test. Samples are maintained and tested at different dry densities under optimal moisture conditions. Test results showed that the horizontal saturated permeability coefficient of compacted loess was larger than in the vertical direction, showing obvious anisotropy. Based on the saturated permeability coefficient, the permeability coefficient of unsaturated compacted loess can be predicted according to the soil-water characteristic curve fitted using the van Genuchten model combined with the Childs and Collis-Geroge model. The relational formula was established between the unsaturated permeability anisotropy ratio and the matrix suction through introducing a pore connectivity-tortuosity parameter, which represents the relationship between unsaturated permeability anisotropy ratio and matrix suction. The difference of pore characteristics between horizontal and vertical directions of compacted loess is the main reason for the permeability anisotropy.