Sistema ultrassônico aplicado à detecção de interfaces geológicas em caixa de areia

Abstract

Geological modeling in sandboxes is an effective tool for replicating and investigating the propagation of seismic reflections in a controlled environment, providing results that are more representative compared to purely computational simulations. This technique enables a detailed study of phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and wave dispersion at interfaces composed of different materials. However, the implementation of these experiments faces challenges, especially regarding the high cost of suitable ultrasonic sensors, which must have a wide beam angle and broad frequency bandwidth to detect a variety of signals reflected by different materials. Furthermore, most systems described in the literature are composed of decentralized, dedicated devices for each function — requiring computers for control and processing, digital-to-analog converters for signal emission, and high- resolution analog-to-digital converters for data acquisition, which significantly increases the complexity and cost of the system. In this context, the present work proposes the use of more affordable commercial ultrasonic sensors, even with more limited characteristics, combined with a digital signal processor (DSP) responsible for integrating pulse generation, data acquisition, and transmission. Additionally, techniques for selecting and arranging materials within the sandbox will be employed to maximize interface detection. This approach seeks to balance cost and performance, making it possible to conduct experiments with consistent results even in resource-constrained scenarios.