UCLA

An ultrasonic p-wave reflection imaging system is used to non-invasively image submerged soil models with embedded anomalies and complex geometric layer contacts. The ultrasonic transducers emit compressive waves into water that subsequently transmit into the underlying soil, and measurements of the reflections are used to construct the images. Properties of the transducers and data acquisition hardware and software are explained. A soil model consisting of embedded high- and low-impedance anomalies, dipping soil layer contacts, and an undulating concrete base layer was imaged using 500 kHz transducers. The geometric features of the model are clearly visible in the images.