The Development of Planar Fiber-Optic Microprobes for Rapid, Remote Assessment of Seafloor Bulk Properties and Sediment Grain Size

Abstract

The operational Navy seeks observational tools for rapidly determining the characteristics of near surface sediments in strategically important areas and in order to apply the predictive algorithms properly. The purpose of the proposed study is to develop an in situ fiber-optic microprobe that utilizes visible light radiation to determine sediment characteristics such as bulk density, mean grain size, porosity, and microfabric that is deployable over a wide range of seafloors from mud to sand (carbonate and siliciclastic). This tool, when deployed by the operational Navy, would allow for rapid mapping of sediment type and geotechnical properties by remote means, particularly when used in concert with existing probe technology (e.g., sediment resistivity probes). Potential deployment platforms include autonomous ROV s, wire-deployed profilers, and bottom tripods.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2001
Accession Number
ADA626047

Entities

People

  • Mead A. Allison

Organizations

  • Tulane University of Louisiana

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Calibration
  • Carbonates
  • Deployment
  • Grain Size
  • Long Wavelengths
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Microprobes
  • Platforms
  • Porosity
  • Probes
  • Radiation
  • Seabed
  • Sediments
  • Short Wavelengths
  • Visible Spectra

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.