Experimental analysis of the AUV acoustic signature

This thesis presents an experimental analysis of the acoustic signature of an Ocean Explorer class AUV. The experimental analysis consists of three parts. The first part reports the measurements performed in an open water environment at NSWC in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho. The second part reports on measurements performed at the FAU test tank on a mock model of the AUV and the third part reports the measurements also in the FAU test tank of the AUV under typical operating conditions. The model measurement results were also used to verify the prediction capabilities of a numerical FE model of the AUV using the reciprocity method. The measurements in the FAU tank considered different operating conditions and different mounting of the podule inside the AUV. The podule contains the main mechanical components of the AUV, which are the propulsion motor and the control surface motors. Also considered in these measurements is the influence of the propeller and the influence of covering the aft section of the AUV with a compliant layer. The results of this analysis show that the type of mounting of the podule is not very significant and that significant energy is transferred through the water trapped in between the podule and the hull. Furthermore, the propeller has a significant influence on the acoustic signature since it generates distinct tones. These tones were also observed in the results of the open water measurements.