Potential Geological Hazard Analysis by Visually Monitoring the Abnormal Imaging Boundary of Small-Scale Underwater Soil–Rock Mixtures

Potential structural interfaces or small abnormal areas within underwater soil–rock mixtures may present small-scale risks. The development of our novel phased-array ultrasonic scanning imaging technique allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of these abnormal imaging boundaries of structural interfaces within underwater mixtures. This method allows for the acquisition of ultrasonic video images that depict the internal imaging boundary from various positions and angles within the target area of the soil–rock mixture. These images serve as an ultrasonic imaging boundary of the processed internal abnormal structural interface within underwater soil–rock mixtures. A statistical analysis of the binarization features of imaging boundaries in ultrasonic video images was conducted. The total count of nonzero pixels, discontinuous light spots, and stripe bands was obtained. Additionally, the ratio of the boundary length of all light spots and stripe bands to the number of pixels occupied by them was calculated. Based on these findings, a criterion for determining the degree of potential geological hazards was established. By refining the diagnosis and analysis of small-scale abnormal imaging boundary, the visual monitoring of the internal abnormal structural interface of underwater soil–rock mixture and the accurate evaluation of potential geological hazards can be realized, which provides a new perspective for stability and safety analysis in geotechnical engineering.