Iteration-based Array Analysis for Conceptual Design of Active Sonar Arrays

Abstract

The array equations are commonly used for analysis and conceptual design of active sonar projector arrays. Calculation of the radiation impedance matrix poses a major computational bottleneck for the solution of the array equations, which leads to a dramatic increase in computational load as the number of constituent transducers increases. Here, we propose an iteration-based solution method that does not require the calculation of the radiation impedance matrix, as a computationally efficient alternative to the status quo. The validity of the iteration-based analysis is judged against the full finite-element analysis that includes the entire array as well as the medium. The array equations for the 1/3-sector of a cylindrical array comprised of 48 Tonpilz transducers are augmented by the lumped element models, and are solved iteratively for the acoustic and electro-mechanical characteristics. The iteration-based analysis exhibits rapid convergence and accuracy comparable with the FE analysis. Simulations also reveal that the acoustic coupling between transducers has more pronounced effects on the electro-mechanical characteristics of individual transducers than the acoustic performance of the array.

Reflected Wave Reduction Based on Time-Delay Separation for the Plane Array of Multilayer Acoustic Absorbers

“…Many efforts are being made to convert a single acoustic sensor into a plane array to achieve meaningful absorption underwater performance [6,[18][19][20]. However, there was still not a plane array with a multilayer acoustic absorber for attenuating reflected waves.…”