| This paper presents the development of a new integrated in-situ acoustic system based on a gravity corer for seabed sediment sampling, named the sediment acoustics and sampling integrated system, SASIS. This system can provide important data and samples for research on acoustic models in submarine areas and the geological evaluation of marine engineering. The underwater structure of SASIS mainly includes an acoustic measurement unit and a gravity coring unit, integrating the transmitter, receiver, and gravity corer. The system measures the sound velocity and attenuation of the sediments using vibratory sliding compressional wave, with the main frequency of the
sound wave being selectable between 12 kHz and 28 kHz, employing a 1-transmitter-4-receiver measurement mode. During in-situ acoustic measurements, sediment samples from the same location can be collected simultaneously. Supported by the joint fund of the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the shared voyage in 2023, SASIS was successfully tested at five stations near Zhoushan, East China Sea, Zhejiang. The water depth at the test sites was about 12.0m, and SASIS efficiently collected in-situ acoustic data and sediment samples simultaneously. This paper presents a preliminary data analysis of sediment sound velocity and attenuation. Comparisons with previous measurement data and laboratory acoustic measurements of samples show that the in-situ acoustic data from SASIS are reliable and effective. |
