Advanced layered composite structures for underwater acoustic applications

Abstract

The detection of underwater objects is one of the most critical technologies, and there have been constant efforts for developing sophisticated sonar systems in naval warfare. Against such efforts, the countermeasure of hiding underwater vehicles, equipment and weapons is another technological challenge. One of the effective countermeasures against sonic detection for the submarines and other underwater objects, such as naval mines, is to employ composite/hybrid materials to prevent ease of detection. Geometrical forms, shapes and layers, along with the tuning of the acoustical impedance, lead to a considerable decrease of the sonar signals via absorption of the sonic waves. In this study, an original and novel design of multi-layered composite/hybrid structure was developed and underwater acoustic testing procedures of reflection, transmission and scattering were applied in 80 kHz-100 kHz frequency range. The findings obtained in this study showed that the multi-layered composite/hybrid materials with porous structure possess much lower values in millivolt than steel plates and might be potential candidates as covering and/or casing materials for underwater mines to reduce the acoustical signature against detection and identification.