Patent ID: 6121894
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for monitoring scouring around a structural member having a lower portion submerged beneath the sediment floor of a body of water, comprising(a) time domain reflectometer means for generating a plurality of electromagnetic pulses and electrical step signals, including:(1) a square wave generator for generating an electrical signal having a rise-time;(2) a fast rise-time generator connected with said square wave generator for receiving said electrical signal from said square wave generator and producing said electrical step signal having a fast rise-time relative to that of said square wave generator; and(3) a high pass filter connected with said fast rise-time generator for converting a fast rise-time electrical signal into said electromagnetic pulses;(b) sensor means for receiving and reflecting said electrical step signals connected with said pulse generator means and arranged within the sediment of the body of water, said sensor means comprising at least one pair of parallel transmission lines which receive and reflect said fast rise-time step signals, said reflected signals being a time-domain function of the properties of the surrounding media through which said sensor means passes; and(c) signal analyzer means connected with said time domain reflectometer means for receiving and analyzing said electromagnetic pulses, whereby changes between said electromagnetic pulses and in the elapsed propagation times thereof can be determined as a measure of the scouring at the structural member resulting from shifting of sediment and other material in the floor of the body of water.