Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1973

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Electrical Engineering

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is the use of sound transmission parameters as indicators of soil moisture. Sound waves have long been used in subsurface explorations. Shepard (1935) describes a seismic method. At the present time there are several seismic methods in use. In general, measurement is based on the fact that the velocity of shock waves is a function of the density and of other properties of the material through which they travel. A change in the significant properties of the material in the path of the sound waves causes reflections and velocity changes. These changes in the sound transmission parameters are measured and several geological properties may be inferred, such as the depth of rock below ground or the location of other types of strata. Sound waves have also been used in oil explorations. In one method, a magnetostricti.ve sound transducer is lowered into a drill hole and a velocity log is made as a function of depth below ground. This measurement may give an indication of the presence of oil in the vicinity of the shaft. Thus, the use of sound transmission parameters to determine certain geological features is not an unusual approach. It has been a successful method of rap idly giving the user an overall picture of various characteristics of the earth. The subject of this thesis is the use of sound transmission parameters as indicators of soil moisture. Sound waves have long been used in subsurface explorations. Shepard (1935) describes aseismic method. At the present time there are several seismic methods in use. In general, measurement is based on the fact that the velocity of shock waves is a function of the density and of other properties of the material through which they travel. A change in the significant properties of the material in the path of the sound waves causes reflections and velocity changes. These changes in the sound transmission parameters are measured and several geological properties may be inferred, such as the depth of rock below ground or the location of other types of strata. Sound waves have also been used in oil explorations. In one method, a magnetostrictive sound transducer is lowered into a drill hole and a velocity log is made as a function of depth below ground. This measurement may give an indication of the presence of oil in the vicinity of the shaft. Thus, the use of sound transmission parameters to determine certain geological features is not an unusual approach. It has been a successful method of rapidly giving the user an overall picture of various characteristics of the earth.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Soil moisture

Soil mechanics

Gamma rays -- Measurement

South Dakota State University Theses

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

111

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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