Depuis de nombreuses années, la compréhension de l'influence des fluides dans la déformation des roches est un enjeu majeur pour de nombreux scientifiques. Dans le cadre de ce projet de recherche, notre attention s’est focalisée sur l’observation et la modélisation des mécanismes d’interaction entre les parties fluide et solide lors de l’aérofracturation d’un milieu poreux. Notre dispositif expérimental reproduit le phénomène à basse pression et dans un système pertinent pour l’analyse optique, grâce à une cellule de Hele‐Shaw rectangulaire dans laquelle se trouve un milieu granulaire soumis à des écoulements de fluide interstitiel. Dans les expériences et les simulations nous avons observé ce que l’amplitude de la partie de fréquence basse du spectre puissance diminue avec la fracturation en progrès. Aussi, nous avons développé une méthode pour focaliser les ondes ce qui peut être utiliser pour estimer la position de la source. / Fluid induced brittle deformation of porous medium is a phenomenon commonly present in everyday life. From an espresso machine to volcanoes it is possible to see traces of this phenomenon. In a rectangular Hele‐Shaw cell we inject air into a loose porous medium. Then, we monitor this system using optical imaging using a high speed camera (1000 fps) and 4 high frequency resolution accelerometers. Using the numerical and experimental acoustic emissions, different sources of the recorded signal (vibrations due to air, changes in the effective stress due to fluid‐solid interactions) are analyzed. We found that, the peaks in the low frequency range (f < 20 kHz) diminishes while the medium fractures. Furthermore, we propose a new signal localization method based on energy amplitude attenuation and inversed source amplitude comparison. Furthermore, using optical and acoustic datasets and numerical simulations, the mechanics leading Type‐A and Type‐B earthquakes are explained.

Objective assessment for the effect of hearing protectors, background noise levels, and backup alarm acoustic features on listeners' abilities to localize backup alarm signals in the horizontal dimension, as well as on their ability to detect backup alarm signals in the distance dimension, is lacking in the acoustics and safety literature. Accordingly, two research experiments were conducted for this dissertation. In the first experiment, the effect of seven hearing protectors, two background pink noise levels (60 dBA and 90 dBA), and two backup alarm signals (standard and spectrally-modified) on the ability of normal hearing listeners to localize backup alarm signals in the horizontal dimension was investigated. Results indicated that a diotic sound transmission earmuff significantly degraded localization accuracy as compared to all other hearing protectors and the open ear condition. In addition, no significant difference existed between the open ear condition and the other hearing protectors in localization accuracy in most of the conditions tested. However, the E-A-R/3M HiFiTM earplug was advantageous in localization performance since it provided a significantly higher percentage correct localization than the Moldex foam earplug, the diotic earmuff, and the dichotic earmuff in 90 dBA pink noise. As for main effects of the other independent variables, the 90 dBA pink noise significantly degraded localization performance as compared to the quiet condition of 60 dBA, and a spectrally-modified backup alarm significantly improved localization performance as compared to the standard (narrowband) backup alarm. Potential application of these results includes the revision of backup alarm standards. In addition, these results provide clear advice for safety professionals to avoid the application of diotic sound transmission earmuffs for workers if localizing backup alarms is important. In the first experiment, listeners' feeling of comfort for each hearing protector was assessed subjectively by using a comfort rating scale. In addition, a subjective assessment for listeners' confidence in their localization decisions was established. Results indicated no significant difference between the hearing protectors in terms of comfort. However, in terms of listeners' confidence in localization decisions, their confidence was significantly degraded when they were fitted with the diotic earmuff. By contrast, they showed significantly more confidence in their localization decisions when they were fitted with the E-A-R/3M HiFi™ earplug as compared to when they were fitted with the Moldex foam earplug, the E-A-R/3M Ultrafit™ earplug, and the Bilsom passive earmuff. In the second experiment, listeners' performance in detecting a stationary backup alarm signal, including both a standard (narrowband) and broadband (pulsed white noise) alarm, was determined while they were equipped with various passive and electronic hearing protection devices. Listeners' performance was quantified by detection distance, which was defined as the distance between the stationary backup alarm device and the position where the listener detected the backup alarm signal. The resultant data demonstrated that normal hearing listeners detected a standard (narrowband) backup alarm signal at significantly longer distances as compared to the broadband (Brigade™) backup alarm signal, thus indicating the earlier forewarning by the standard alarm. In addition, passive hearing protection devices characterized with high attenuation significantly reduced the detection distance. These results may be applied to assist safety professionals in selecting hearing protectors and backup alarm signals that provide on-foot workers with ample time to react to an approaching backing vehicle, thus improving their safety. / Ph. D.