A portative celerimeter for measurement and analysis of compressional speed and attenuation in marine sediments: description and first results

Geoacoustic parameters of the seafloor are required for accurate sonar prediction and analysis of seismic reflection profiles, especially in shallow water. They are generally established by means of empirical relations. The presented work is part of CARASEDIM, an experimental project devoted to refine these geoacoustical relations in marine sediments, including coarse sands. We focus on the results of the celerimeter prototype that has been developed for that purpose. This portative device is equipped with two emitting probes and two receiving probes allowing to transmit signals between 40kHz and 400kHz. It is designed to both laboratory and in-situ measurements. We discuss about the processing techniques, the protocole of measurement and about the first results. Some laboratory results are presented in both real coarse sands and artificial glass beads. They are compared with theoretical models of sound propagation in sediments based on various assumptions (fluid, visco-elastic, porous...).