Investigations of the Seafloor Coupling Characteristics of the New ONR OBS and Related Questions

Abstract

A series of transient tests were conducted to determine the seafloor coupling characteristics of the new ONR Ocean Bottom Seismology. Seismic energy radiated from the main recording package as a result of motion of the recording package was also measured. The vertical coupling resonances of both the recording package and the sensor package are somewhat lower than those predicted by a simple model of soil-structure interaction, but are generally in agreement with the theory. The most important result of this study is that significant energy radiated from the recording package in response to horizontal motions of the recording package. When the sensor package is 1 m from the recording package, the amplitude of the recorded signal is similar to that recorded on the recording package. In the field, this effect will result in increased noise recorded by the sensors if the recording package is disturbed by seafloor currents or biological activity. The amplitude of this signal attenuates rapidly with distance, suggesting that an improved responses can be achieved by increasing the separation between the recording package and the sensors. This effect is much less severe for vertical disturbances of the recording package.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 10, 1992
Accession Number
ADA246241

Entities

People

  • Anne Trehu

Organizations

  • Oregon State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Background Noise
  • Civil Engineering
  • Dynamic Response
  • Engineering
  • Frequency
  • Mechanics
  • Physical Properties
  • Pull Tests
  • Rayleigh Waves
  • Recording Systems
  • Resonance
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Seabed
  • Seismometers
  • Shear Modulus
  • Soil Structure Interactions
  • Vibration

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Seismology