Measurement and modeling of pulsed bi-frequency, nonlinear acoustic excitation of buried landmines

Abstract

To help resolve certain practical issues with acoustical methods for humanitarian landmine detection, we have researched using a pulsed, standoff source method for acoustical excitation of the buried mine [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130, 2541 (2011); J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133, 3457 (2013)]. Pulses consisting of two primary frequencies are used in order to search for induced nonlinear vibrations at interaction frequencies such as the sum frequency, which arise due to nonlinear interaction at the mine/soil interface. To model the pulsed excitation, we employ a fully nonlinear time-domain implementation of the lumped-element model of nonlinear soil/mine interaction introduced by Donskoy et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 690 (2005)]. Modeling is compared with experimental results, which are obtained with bi-frequency pulses exciting a soil with a buried landmine replica, instrumented with a geophone and a nearby microphone. Cases investigated include: (1) target only, (2) buried target under disturbed soil, (3) disturbed soil only, and (4) undisturbed soil. Excitation both on and off the resonance of the buried mine is also investigated, as is burial in different soil types at various depths. [Work supported by the ARL:UT McKinney Fellowship in Acoustics.]