A free fall ball penetrometer with a booster is dynamically penetrated into the seabed through its kinetic and potential energies. The main measuring instrument is a ball penetrometer, which is subject to end bearing resistance, drag force, and soil buoyant force during the dynamic penetration process within the soil. Based on the measured data from the accelerometer and load cell, the soil strength parameters including the undrained shear strength and strain-rate parameter can be back-analyzed. The added booster can: (1) effectively increase the penetration depth of the ball penetrometer and hence enlarge the range of measured penetration depths; and (2) improve the directional stability and avoid the rotation of the ball penetrometer during the falling process. The force data measured from the load cell, together with the acceleration data from the accelerometer, can further improve the measured accuracy.

A free fall ball penetrometer with a booster is dynamically penetrated into the seabed through its kinetic and potential energies. The main measuring instrument is a ball penetrometer, which is subject to end bearing resistance, drag force, and soil buoyant force during the dynamic penetration process within the soil. Based on the measured data from the accelerometer and load cell, the soil strength parameters including the undrained shear strength and strain-rate parameter can be back-analyzed. The added booster can: (1) effectively increase the penetration depth of the ball penetrometer and hence enlarge the range of measured penetration depths; and (2) improve the directional stability and avoid the rotation of the ball penetrometer during the falling process. The force data measured from the load cell, together with the acceleration data from the accelerometer, can further improve the measured accuracy.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

The present invention discloses a system for measuring the mechanical properties of sea floor sediments at full ocean depth. The system includes an overwater monitoring unit and an underwater measurement device, where the underwater measurement device includes an observation platform and a measuring mechanism; the observation platform includes a frame-type body and a floating body, a wing panel, a floating ball cabin, a leveling mechanism, a counterweight, and a release mechanism mounted on the frame-type body; the floating ball cabin seals a circuit system; the leveling mechanism adjusts the underwater measurement device horizontally on the sea floor when the frame-type body reaches the sea floor; the release mechanism discards the counterweight for recovery of the unit after the underwater measurement device completes the underwater operation; the measuring mechanism includes at least one of a cone penetration measuring mechanism, a spherical penetration measuring mechanism, and a vane shear measuring mechanism, or a sampling mechanism.

A device for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The device comprising an elongate member 3002 and an electrode 3001. The electrode 3001 extends along at least part of the length of the elongate member 3002. The device is arranged to generate an output in response to the electrode 3001 being positioned in the fluid. The device is arranged to generate an output indicative of the velocity of the elongate member 3002 as it falls through the fluid from a substantially upright or pre-determined or other set position.

A device for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The device comprising an elongate member 3002 and an electrode 3001. The electrode 3001 extends along at least part of the length of the elongate member 3002. The device is arranged to generate an output in response to the electrode 3001 being positioned in the fluid. The device is arranged to generate an output indicative of the velocity of the elongate member 3002 as it falls through the fluid from a substantially upright or pre-determined or other set position.

A test system comprising a heating device for heating content comprising a mixture of a first and a second product, said device comprising a test container suitable for receiving the content, a receiving container suitable for receiving the test container, a coil comprising induction turns, and a current source suitable for supplying current to the induction turns. The heating device is such that the induction turns are attached to the receiving container and extend helically concentrically around the receiving container. The test system further comprises an arm for mixing the content of the test container and a mechanism for guiding the arm. A method for implementing such a test system.