Evaluation of a Controllable Impulsive Surface Discharge Acoustic Source for "A" Size Sonobuoy Application

The Surface Discharge (SD) is an electrically driven impulsive acoustic source with a broadband low frequency spectrum. In comparison to an explosive acoustic source the SD is safe, reusable, can provide pulse trains and has controllable acoustic output. The originator of the Surface Discharge acoustic source proposes to evaluate the use of SD technology for "A1" size sonobuoy applications. Existing SD acoustic source technology, developed for surveillance arrays, has novel features attractive for use in sonobuoys. The SD has high efficiency in converting electrical into acoustic energy and a compact transducer design that translate into a powerful impulsive acoustic source with the potential to supplement or replace explosive acoustic sources currently in use. Controllability includes both the ability to determine the peak in the acoustic spectrum as well as precise electronic timing of pressure waveforms. Unlike explosives, an SD system can ping many times, and will eliminate the safety and environmental concerns of explosives. Phoenix Science & Technology (PS&T) proposes to apply its unique knowledge of low frequency impulsive SD sources in a design study to determine the SD's Energy Source Level (ESL) and acoustic spectral capabilities in an "A" size sonobuoy, in comparison to a four pound SUS charge. We will trade-off the maximum ESL as a function of number of pings and ping repetition rate, and use existing experimental data to determine the timing accuracy capability for producing programmable wavetrains. In addition, we will design single and 3 element SD systems for fabrication and testing in Phase II.