Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine 26-1 - 52

With the further development and cross application of
modern ultrasound imaging technology, ultrasound imaging
instrumentation has been widely used in medicine. These instruments
have gradually been recently applied to the model
test of hydraulic engineering and geological engineering.
Based on the high-frequency ultrasonic echo imaging principle,
a modern ultrasound diagnostic instrument has the
advantages of good penetrability and high resolution. It can
dynamically image and display underwater topography in the
sediment-laden flow in real time. The image is intuitive and
brings great convenience to the scientific research of the water
flow and suspended particles. The measurements of flow
and particles using a B-mode ultrasound instrument, such as
one used for low sediment concentration, sediment incipient
velocity and underwater model topographic line extraction,
have the ability to provide real-time imaging recognition of
underwater particles and fine topography. For the imaging of
particles in water, image measurements and research can be
carried out in terms of flow velocity and profile flow field [6].
The dynamic imaging measurement and three-dimensional
reconstruction of underwater topography can be realized with
non-contact measurement and automatic analysis in real time.
The recent developments in the applications of ultrasound imaging
system for the measurement of water-sand parameters
in water resources and hydropower engineering are shown in
Fig. 1.
With the development of portable ultrasound diagnostic
instruments (PUDI), real-time and perception of discernable
detail in the field visualization tests have been greatly improved,
and the water-immersed ultrasonic synthetic aperture
imaging probe has been further applied in monitoring water
environments and in geotechnical engineering, as well as
flooded areas, through the ultrasonic imaging of rock and soil
mass profile [7]. Therefore, we take an advanced medical ultrasonic
diagnostic technology as an example and improve
the PUDI system, which can be used to research and monitor
groundwater and particles' pollutant migration regularity.
Lastly, the interaction mechanism between water, soil, and
rock interfaces can be revealed and help to prevent the further
destruction of the groundwater and geotechnical structures
due to human activities. Those have important research significance
and applications for geotechnical engineering,
geological engineering, and environmental protection.
Pollutants in the Water-Soil-Rock
Interface
Groundwater Pollutants
Pollutants in this paper refer to the tangible granular or blockshaped
pollution objects retained by groundwater pollutants
after long-time settlement in the soil-rock interface or due to
chemical reaction. Under the action of long-term infiltration
and corrosion of the water environment through a physical
or chemical reaction, groundwater pollutants will inevitably
form specific tangible structural characteristics in a certain
underground water-soil-rock interface area, which is of great
theoretical and practical significance for the parasitic environment
and transport route of pollutants in the groundwater [8].
The characteristics of granular or block form and structures
of pollutants are the key in the water-soil-rock interface area.
According to the characteristics and requirements of underwater
environment and field geotechnical engineering
experiments, the medical PUDI is improved and applied to
underwater geotechnical engineering for the geological survey.
The improved PUDI can be used for the real-time imaging
detection and visualization analysis of groundwater in caves
and underwater pollutants. By analyzing the ultrasonic image
data of groundwater, pollutants, underwater rock, and
soil mass structures, we focused on the interfaces between the
water, soil, and rock mass. The real-time analysis problems of
groundwater visualization and particle pollutants monitoring
can be solved, which lays a good foundation for the research of
migration regularity of granular pollutants and their interaction
mechanism between water-soil-rock interfaces.
Ultrasound Imaging
Measurement
Principle and Imaging
Characteristics
Fig. 1. Recent developments in the applications of ultrasound imaging systems for the measurement of water-sand
parameters in water resources and hydropower engineering.
52
IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine
The PUDI is mainly
composed of a host and ultrasonic
probe. The probe
sends out the ultrasonic
wave and receives the
echoes in order. The ultrasonic
waves not only can
propagate in a directional
way but also can penetrate
an object. The echoes are
produced when the wave
encounters obstacles inside
the object or on the surfaces
of two different objects.
February 2023

Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine 26-1

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