Design of an underwater acoustics lab

Abstract

A new underwater acoustics laboratory has been created at Brigham Young University. Care was taken to design the lab that can take high precision measurements and yet provide an optimal environment for training undergraduate student researchers. The laboratory water tank is a rectangular acrylic tank of 3.6 m long by 1.2 m wide with 0.91 m as the maximum depth. This paper provides details about the custom-built water treatment and sanitizer with bubble removal column. The measurement chain for signal transmission and recording and the automated positioning system are explained. Sound absorbing tiles acquired to line the side walls are also described. The in situ calibration method for obtaining a through-the-sensor frequency response of the entire measurement chain is presented. Limitations are mentioned along with a discussion of how this design maintains potential for a wide variety of underwater acoustic laboratory measurements.