Simultaneous Estimation of Sediment Concentration and Particle Size Information using Single Ultrasonic Wave Sensor

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630225
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hydraulic engineering
• Research Institution: Toyohashi University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Shigeru Kato 豊橋技術科学大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40303911)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波パルス / 粒径推定 / 周波数解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The estimation of particle size information was conducted using a single ultrasonic wave sensor. Reflective echo intensity data by samples made in glass beads, which is imitation sample of sand, was measured in the experiments. And frequency analysis was employed for the data to investigate the relationship between particle size and frequency characteristics. The experiment imitating the suspended sand using agar phantom indicated that the center frequency calculated from frequency spectral distribution of the echo data changed in accordance with the change of particle size of a sample. The experiment imitating sediment surface sand by increasing layer thickness demonstrated that the change of the maximum of frequency spectrum corresponded to that of the particle size. Experimental results suggested that it is possible to estimate sand particle information indispensable for estimation of sediment concentration by measurement using ultrasonic pulse wave.

Free Research Field

海岸工学