Nonlinear acoustic spectroscopy of carbonate rocks

Abstract

The paper presents the results of experimental research into the nonlinear acoustic properties of carbonate rocks depending on saturation. The linear acoustic properties of the same sample depending on saturation were presented earlier in Physical Acoustics. The previously obtained data point to the isotropy of the material, which makes it possible to restrict analysis to only two vibration modes. Responses for finite deformations were measured for the longitudinal and shear modes of an isotropic sample, which made it possible to analyze the nonlinear properties of macroscopic deformations with a change in volume and pure displacement. A heretofore unknown feature of the response was revealed for finite deformation values; it is related to the occurrence of a jumplike transition from classical nonlinearity to a hysteresis type of nonlinearity. As well, the deformation amplitude corresponding to the transition depends on fluid saturation. We studied the slow relaxation that occurs after long-term excitation of a sample with a deformation amplitude on the order of 10⁻⁶. Data are presented on relaxation for deformation from pure displacement and deformation with a change in volume, which made it possible to isolate features related to the type of deformation and to compare the obtained data with the earlier published theoretical model. These data are compared with the results of other research groups.