Projector design for imaging of buried unexploded ordnance

Recent modeling and field experimentation has shown very-shallow-water acoustic imaging of buried unexploded ordnance (UXO) can place stringent requirements on the sonar transmit system. Achieving high-resolution imagery requires large transmit bandwidth. Imaging deeply buried UXO requires low operating frequencies and high source levels to overcome sediment attenuation. Imaging UXO near the sediment–water interface requires short transmit waveforms that require projectors with a low mechanical quality factor for accurate reproduction. This work presents the results of a recent design study, device fabrication, and acoustic testing of a new projector intended for operation as part of a buried UXO imaging system. The analysis will focus on the design and material selection of the head mass and the ring stack used in the tonpilz device. The head mass design trade considered construction from aluminum or an aluminum beryllium metal matrix composite (AlBeMet). The ring stack design trade considered traditional polycrystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT), ternary single crystal lead indium niobium–lead indium manganese niobium titanate (PIN-PMN-PT), and textured manganese doped lead magnesium niobate–lead zirconate titanate (Mn-PMN-PZT). Finite element simulations and measured results will be presented.