Nonlinear acoustic experiments involving landmine detection: A connection between mesoscopic/nanoscale effects in geomaterials

Abstract

The vibration interaction between the top-plate interface of a buried plastic landmine and the soil above it appears to exhibit many characteristics of the mesoscopic/nanoscale nonlinear effects that are observed in geomaterials like rocks (sandstone) or granular materials. Experiments are performed with an inert VS 1.6 anti-tank mine that is buried 3.6 cm deep in dry sifted loess soil. Airborne sound at two primary frequencies f1=120 Hz and f2=130 Hz undergo acoustic-to-seismic coupling. Interactions with the compliant mine and soil generate combination frequencies that, through scattering, can affect the vibration velocity at the surface. Profiles of the soil surface particle velocity at f1 and f2 and the nonlinearly generated f1−(f2−f1) component are characterized by a single peak. Doubly peaked profiles at 2f1+f2 and 2f2+f1 are attributed to the familiar mode shape of a timpani drum. Near resonance, the bending (a softening) of a family of tuning curves for the soil surface vibration over a landmine exhibits a linear relationship between the peak frequency and the corresponding peak particle velocity, which also exhibit hysteresis effects. [Work supported by U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command RDEC, NVESD, Fort Belvoir, VA.]