Monterey Bay Mine Impact Buriel Experiment

Abstract

Mine Impact Burial Experiment (MIBEX) was conducted at Monterey Bay on May 23, 2000 using a simulated mine. During the experiment, we carefully observe mine track and mine burial depth while simultaneously take gravity cores. After analyzing the gravity cores, we obtain the bottom sediment shear strength data set. Such synchronous mine burial depth and shear strength data were used to evaluate the Navy's Impact Burial Prediction Model (IBPM) which creates a two-dimensional time history of a bottom mine as it falls through air, water, and sediment. The output of the model is the predicted burial depth of the mine in the sediment in meters, as well as height, area, and volume protruding. Model input consists of environmental parameters and mine characteristics, as well as parameters describing the mine’s release. The MIBEX data show that the current IBPM model needs to be improved.