Ultrasonic bulk density measurements of fine-grained sediments with different particle sizes distributions

Abstract

The bulk density of consolidated sediments serves as a pivotal indicator for evaluating sediment performance. Utilizing acoustic measurement, a non-intrusive method, enables density measurements without disrupting the consolidated structure, yielding a dry bulk density that closely approximates the ideal experimental state compared to traditional invasive methods. However, ultrasonic density measurement under conditions of complex particle size variations remains challenging. In this study, an improved non-intrusive ultrasonic densitometer was developed and employed to determine the bulk density of channel silting sediment with three different particle sizes and clay-silt compositions. A comparative analysis of ultrasonic density calibration curves for different media was conducted, revealing trends. Additionally, during the calibration process for different media, approximate regularities were identified in the calibration curves, all of which were linked to the calibration results obtained with tap water. This study further underscores the necessity for calibration of the ultrasonic device to ensure accuracy.