A study of ultrasonic surface and bulk waves in saturated porous solids

The acoustics of fluid-saturated porous solids were studied. These structures are characterized by the fluid pores and the solid matrix as being each continuous. The structure is typical of many sedimentary rocks and synthetic filtration materials. The thesis contains experimental measurements of bulk waves in Biot solids, especially the slow wave. Plona's measurements are repeated and slow wave properties and detection difficulties are discussed. A wedge technique developed in our laboratory to enhance slow wave detection is also presented. Experimental results of surface wave velocity measurements are presented, using the periodic surface technique, as are experiments performed on various rock samples in an attempt to measure bulk and surface waves in natural materials.