ISSN:
1365-2478
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
We calculate the compressional- and shear-wave velocities of permafrost as a function of unfrozen water content and temperature. Unlike previous theories based on simple slowness and/or moduli averaging or two-phase models, we use a Biot-type three-phase theory that considers the existence of two solids (solid and ice matrices) and a liquid (unfrozen water). The compressional velocity for unconsolidated sediments obtained with this theory is close to the velocity computed with Wood's model, since Biot's theory involves a Wood averaging of the moduli of the single constituents. Moreover, the model gives lower velocities than the well-known slowness averaging theory (Wyllie's equation). For consolidated Berea sandstone, the theory underestimates the value of the compressional velocity below 0°C. Computing the average bulk moduli by slowness averaging the ice and solid phases and Wood averaging the intermediate moduli with the liquid phase yields a fairly good fit of the experimental data. The proportion of unfrozen water and temperature are closely related. Fitting the wave velocity at a given temperature allows the prediction of the velocity at the whole range of temperatures, provided that the average pore radius and its standard deviation are known.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2478.1998.1000333.x
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