Very High Powered, Low Frequency Underwater Projectors

There is an ongoing need to improve the design of low frequency, high power sonar transducers for use in underwater acoustic applications. During this Phase I Base Program, the Massa/BAE Team investigated the properties of recently developed PMN-PT textured ceramics for transduction use in transducers, and then developed designs for two different PMN-PT transducers that were based on existing PZT-8 transducers to evaluate the potential improvements. The first design was a Class III Flextensional (Barrel Stave) Transducer that operated over the frequency range of 0.8 to 1.2 kHz. The textured transducer design produced an increase in maximum Source Level of 5 dB above the same sized PZT-8 transducer over the entire bandwidth. The second design was a lightweight direct mechanical and electroacoustic replacement for the PZT-8 Tonpilz TR-353 Transducers used in the projector portion of the LAB Array on Virginia Class Submarines. The textured transducer design produced the same resonant frequency and TVR at resonance as the PZT-8 TR-353, and a higher TVR over the operating bandwidth. A production design of this version of the TR-353 Transducer will reduce the weight of the Lab Array on each Virginia Class Submarine by almost 2000 lbs.