The Influence of Permeability on the Propagation Characteristics of the Waves in Different Saturated Soils

Abstract

The permeability of saturated soils has great influence on the velocities and attenuation characteristics of fast compressional wave P1, low compressional wave P2, and shear wave S in saturated soils, respectively. In three different cases, namely zero, finite, and infinite permeability, the wave equations and theoretical velocities of P1, P2, and S wave in saturated soils are given based on the u-w-p equation, respectively. According to the solutions of the wave equations, the real velocities and attenuation coefficients of three waves are redefined, respectively. In different saturated soils, the influences of the permeability and the loading frequency on the wave velocities and attenuation are discussed, respectively. Moreover, the suitable application scope of the u-p equation is discussed based on different permeabilities and loading frequencies.