Cuschieri, Joseph M.

The problem of inverse scattering where the scattering structure is unknown, and the physical properties are predicted from the measured echo when the target is insonified with known waveforms, is investigated in this thesis. The scattering structure studied is a submerged, evacuated, spherical elastic shell. The formulation of the echo is carried out using thin shell theory for low and middle frequency range, which basically assumes that shear stresses are negligible. The echo is characterized by the form function in the frequency domain, and the impulse response in the time domain. The results of this thesis show that when using a chirp signal with a 200-250kHz bandwidth as the incident waveform, both the material and size of the shell can be recovered. However, the exact thickness of the shell wall couldn't be extracted.

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.

This thesis describes a numerical technique for modeling the vibrational behavior of a complex structure in the mid-frequency range. The structure is divided into subsystems, and each subsystem is modeled using Finite Elements. The obtained results are then manipulated to model variations in the response due to nominal variations in the structure. Based on a Component Mode Synthesis representation, the calculations lead to a deterministic energy flow model. The model represents the deterministic dynamic behavior of the structure for mid frequencies. However, in mid frequencies, the response is sensitive to perturbations in the properties of the structure. An appropriate way to represent those perturbations is to calculate the response of an ensemble of structures. The ensemble is defined in terms of the statistics of the local natural frequencies. A technique combining a Monte Carlo simulation with the Perturbation approach is used to relate the perturbations in the local natural frequencies to the statistics of the energy flow. This combined method is computationally tractable, being several times faster than a full Monte Carlo simulation of the whole global structure.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) rely on acoustics for a number of mission functions such as communications (Acoustic Modem) and vision (Forward and Side Looking Sonars). The AUV acoustic signature (self-noise and vibration) can thus interfere with AUV operations. Additionally, underwater measurements such as turbulence measurements can be contaminated by interference between the AUV generated acoustics pressures and the low pressures of the turbulence. In this thesis a Finite Element and Boundary Element approach is developed to characterize the self-noise (vibration and radiated sound pressure) of a simplified FAU Ocean Explorer AUV. Mechanical excitation from the "podule", which contains the motors for the propulsion and motion control, is assumed in the analysis. The low frequency (less than 1Khz) results are dominated by two types of modes. One type associated with the motion of the "podule" as a rigid body on the vibration isolation supports that connects it to the rest of the AUV structure. The second type is associated with local structural deformations of the "podule", support frame, and AUV hull. Modifying the stiffness of the supports reduces the frequency of the rigid body modes of the "podule", but does not influence the frequencies of the local structural deformations of the "podule" and the rest of the AUV. Decreasing the stiffness of the supports should result in a reduced AUV acoustic signature.

The radiated noise from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV's) can interfere with on-board sensors and with certain type of missions. It is thus important to understand the parameters controlling the AUV self noise. In this thesis, measurement techniques and analyses are developed to investigate the mechanisms contributing to the acoustic noise of an Ocean Explorer class AUV. Measurements of the AUV acoustic signature are performed in a reverberant tank, after the tank is qualified to establish a reliable procedure to measure the AUV source levels. The measurement results are compared that obtained in an anechoic tank and in open-water. Acoustic measurements are correlated with vibration measurements performed on various components of the AUV, in order to identify the dominant components. From the results, some preliminary mitigation procedures to reduce the AUV acoustic signature are developed.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the ability of using piping networks as a communication channel using power line communication transceivers. Two ways by which a piping network is able to propagate waves are investigated. The first wave propagation method is through the pipe shell. Using structural waves and PZT type transducers, data packets are sent and received through the propagation of structural waves in the pipe shell. However, because of the dispersive behavior of quasi flexural radial waves, the data packets are distorted. The second wave propagation method explored is acoustic waves in the enclosed fluid. The data packets are sent and received along the piping network using three types of hydrophones. The reliability of this method depends mostly on the sensitivity of the hydrophones.

The problem investigated in this thesis is that of an infinite, fluid-loaded, elastic cylindrical shell with an inhomogeneity of finite length excited by an acoustic plane wave. Seven inhomogeneities are considered to examine the parameters that influence the scattering. A full numerical approach and an iterative approach are developed to solve the shell and acoustic equations of motion expressed in the wavenumber domain. The response Green's function in the spatial domain is obtained using the hybrid analytical numerical technique, while the far-field scattered pressure is obtained by applying the Stationary Phase approximation. An analytical approach for the special case of a concentrated ring is developed, and the results compared to those from the full numerical solution. The range of applicability of the iterative approach is also investigated. The results show that the scattering pattern is a function of the spectral contents of the inhomogeneity distribution, and that the inhomogeneity mass influenced both the scattering pattern, and the scattering level. From the results it was also noted that an oblique angle of incidence steered the main lobe of the scattering pattern in the direction of the incoming acoustic wave. It is also demonstrated that the concentrated ring is usually a poor model to represent inhomogeneity of finite length.

A mobility power flow approach is used to study the response of an infinitely-long cylindrical shell with an internal plate discontinuity. The shell is excited by either a ring radial force or by a plane acoustic wave. The junction between the shell and the internal plate is assumed to be radially pinned such that in-plane waves of the plate can be neglected. The junction forces are expressed in terms of the mobility functions of the plate and the shell. From knowledge of the junction forces and velocities, the power input, the power flow from the shell to the plate, the shell response and the radiated far-field scattered pressure are determined for the circumferential mode n = 0. The results show how the energy propagates from one structure to the other, and present a very clear picture of the characteristics of the scattering pattern from the junction forces.

When a vehicle crosses the grid section of an open grid bridge deck, a tonal noise is generated. The tonal character of the noise is a consequence of the periodic excitation of both the tire and the grid. The excitation comes from the interaction between the vehicle tire and the periodic grid members. In this thesis, the parameters that control the level and frequency of the generated noise are investigated, with emphasis on quantifying the contribution to the overall noise level of the noise from the tire. The work in this thesis includes both laboratory and field measurements as well as theoretical analysis based on a ring model of the tire. By determining radiated acoustic power from the tires relative to the input force, the sound pressure level radiated from the tires when they cross the open grid deck is estimated. The results of this study show that the tire is the dominant source of noise on open grid bridges and in order to reduce the overall radiated noise, the excitation of the tires by the grid must be reduced. This can be accomplished by either infilling the grid deck or designing the grid to reduce the severity of the periodic excitation force.

When a vehicle crosses the grid section of an open grid or bascule bridge, a tonal noise is generated. The tonal character of the noise is a consequence of the periodic excitation of both the tire and the grid, that comes from the interaction between the vehicle tire and the periodic grid members. In this thesis, the parameters that control the level and frequency of the generated noise are investigated, with emphasis on understanding the contribution to the overall noise level from the vibrations of the grid. Field and laboratory measurements have been performed, together with analytical analysis, on sample grid designs. By determining the acoustic radiation efficiency of the grid, the noise contribution from the grid vibrations is estimated by combing the radiation efficiency with the field measured vibration levels. The results of this study show that the contribution from the grid is small compared to that which may be coming from the vibration of the tire. Without first reducing tire noise, structural modifications to the grid in the form of damping or acoustic baffles will not produce any significant noise reduction.