Scanning of a large clay mass

[tvika]

Dear reader,

I need to scan a 1.0m diameter and 3.0m high water saturated clay mass. I was wondering if there is any tool can possibly scan such a large mass? I am bit aware of various ultrasonic devices, and CT scanners. These techiques are incapable of scanning such a hugh soil sample.
Do you have suggestions?

 

[msucog]

scanning for what in particular?

 

[tvika]

Dear msucog,

I am aiming to detect the gas-driven-fracture within the clay mass.

 

[msucog]

depending on the size of the fracture (width, depth and length), depth of specimen, etc, it might be possible to use seismic refraction to detect it. if this is a lab specimen, i'm not sure how it would work. if it's in the ground, i think it has a slim chance of working. you'd probably have to look at p-wave and s-wave though. and i don't think that it would give a direct "yes or no" sort of answer...it will give indication that it's there by a break in the data. you might even be able to try some surface wave psuedo-technique. due to such a small specimen size, most "typical" equipment would be outside the working range of the sample rate needed to see such a feature...however, i think sonic lab equipment might be your best bet.