Principles of Underwater Sound

Naval Weapons Systems

Learning Objectives
Physical properties associated with sound travel in water Why sound energy is employed for surveillance and detection Sound propagation losses Self-noise and ambient noise, SNR Comprehend concept of FOM

Learning Objectives
Effects of temperature, pressure, and salinity Know basic thermal and sound-velocity structure of the ocean Comprehend use of Snells Law Comprehend the three basic sound-speed gradients Basic properties of ocean currents

Why do we use SOUND?

Range of Penetration Identify Objects Speed of Propagation

Concepts of Sound
Three (3) elements required for this to work
Source Medium Detector (Receiver)

The source VIBRATES causing a series of compressions and rarefactions in a medium Most concepts already discussed will apply

Transmission Losses

Spreading
Spherical (omni-directional point source) Cylindrical (horizontal radiation only)

Transmission Losses (cont.)

Attenuation
Absorption
Process of converting acoustic energy into heat Increases with higher frequency

Scattering and Reverberation

Volume: Marine life, bubbles, etc. Surface: Ocean surface, wind speed Bottom:
Not a problem in deep water Significant problem in shallow water

Questions?

WEDNESDAY:
FRIDAY:

Review
EXAM 1

Self Noise
Machinery Noise
Pumps, reduction gears, power plant, etc.

Flow Noise
Relative motion between the object and the water High speed causes more noise (more friction) Hull fouling - Animal life on hull (not smooth) Want LAMINAR flow

Cavitation
Local pressure behind allows steam to form (low pressure area) Bubbles collapse, VERY NOISY

Screw Cavitation

Blade Tip Cavitation

Water Flow

Sheet Cavitation
Water Flow

Screw Speed , Pressure behind screw blades , Water Boils, Bubbles form, The subsequent collapsing of the bubbles cause the noise.

What effect does increased depth have on cavitation?

Ambient Noise
Hydrodynamic
Caused by the movement of water. Includes tides, current, storms, wind, rain, etc.

Seismic
Movement of the earth (earthquakes)

Biological
Produced by marine life Passive and active

Ocean Traffic
At long ranges only low frequencies are present.

How do we detect a submarine?

Detect the reflected SIGNAL Detect the signal over the background NOISE SONAR (Sound Navigation Ranging) SONAR equations
Look at losses compared to signal Probability of detection

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)

Same as with RADAR. The ratio to the received echo from the target to the noise produced by everything else.

Detection Threshold (DT)

The level, of received signal, required for an experienced operator to detect a target signal 50% of the time.

S - N > DT

Passive Sonar Equation

SL - TL - NL + DI > DT
SL: Source level:- sound level of targets noise source. TL: Transmission Losses: (reflection, absorption, etc.) NL: Noise Level: (Ambient noise) DI: Directivity Index DT: Detection Threshold

DT Sonar Equipment SR Maul!!!!! DI

TL

NL SL-TL-NL+DI=DT

SL

Active Sonar Equations

**Ambient Noise Limited:**

SL - 2TL + TS - NL + DI > DT
Reverberation Noise Limited: (Reverb > ambient noise)

SL - 2TL + TS - RL > DT
TS: Target Strength, A measure of the reflectivity of the target to an active sonar signal.

DT Sonar Equipment SR Hall!!!!!!! DI

2TL NL SL

TS

SL - 2TL + TS - NL + DI > DT

Figure of Merit (FOM)

FOM = the maximum allowable one-way transmission loss in passive sonar, and the maximum two-way transmission loss in active for a detection probability of 50%.
PFOM = SL - NL + DI - DT AFOM = SL + TS - NL + DI - DT

Factors that affect Sound in H2O

Temperature Pressure Salinity

It will bend towards areas of slower speed.

SOUND IS LAZY!!

Speed of Sound in Water

SOUND IS LAZY!!
Variable Effects of: Salinity
Salinity

Pressure
Pressure

Temperature
Temperature

Depth

Depth

Depth

Typical Deep Ocean Sound Velocity Profile

Speed of Sound (meters/sec) 1480 1500 1520

Surface Layer Seasonal Thermocline

Permanent Thermocline
Depth of Water (meters) 1000

2000

Deep Isothermal Layer

3000

SOUND IS LAZY!!

Ray Propagation Theory

The path sound travels can be depicted as a RAY or VECTOR RAYS will change direction when passing through two mediums of different density. REFRACTION!

Snells Law
Sound will bend TOWARDS the region of SLOWER sound speed. Sound is lazy!

ISOVELOCITY
Temperature

Range

Transducer Depth

Maximum Echo Range

Negative Gradient
Direction of Increasing Temperature and Velocity Depth Water Warm

T C

Depth

Shadow Zone

Water Cool

Negative Gradient Thermal Structure

Sound Bends Down When Water Grows Cooler With Depth

Positive Gradient

Depth

Direction of Increasing Temperature and Velocity Water Cool T C Shadow Zone Water Warm Positive Gradient Thermal Structure When Temperature Increases with Depth, Sound Bends Sharply Up

Layer Depth
Direction of Increasing Temperature and Velocity Depth Depth Isothermal Shadow Zone

C
Temperature Cool Sound Beam Splits When Temperature Is Uniform At Surface and Cool At Bottom

Isothermal Gradient Thermal Structure

Sound Channel
Direction of Increasing Temperature and Velocity Depth Depth Water Warm

T C

Shadow Zone

Water Cool Negative Gradient Over Positive

Convergence Zone (CZ)

3-4 deg

T C

Bottom Bounce
>25 Deg.

Possible Propagation Paths

Surface Direct Isovelocity

Sound

Channel

Convergence Zone Bottom Bounce

Questions?