A low-density extended acoustic sensor for low-frequency arrays

A novel PVDF hydrophone is described which has a sensitivity of -183 dBV/μPa or better and can be made in lengths from 4 cm to more than 1 m, and in diameters from 8 mm to >40 mm. It is based on a piezoelectric PVDF cable which allows considerable design freedom because of its very great mechanical flexibility and high longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient. The design centres on a helical structure which translates a hydrostatic pressure field into a longitudinal compressive strain in the cable and thus makes use of the very sensitive mode. Excellent pressure stability can be achieved, with devices showing a pressure dependency of 0.04 dB/MPa. The device has a flat frequency response from less than 1 Hz to several kHz and a density in the region of 1800 kg/m³, making it suitable for application in low-frequency sonar     

Optimum design of filament-wound multilayer-sandwich submersible pressure hulls

Submersible pressure hulls with fiber-reinforced multilayer-sandwich constructions have been developed in recent years as substitutes for classical metallic ring-stiffened pressure hulls. This study aims to optimize the design of filament-wound multilayer-sandwich submersible pressure hulls, taking into consideration the shell buckling strength constraint, the angle-ply laminated facing failure strength constraint and the low-density isotropic core yielding strength constraint under hydrostatic pressure using the hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA). The thickness of the facing, the thickness of the core layer, the orientation angle of the fibers in the facings and the shear modulus of the core material are taken as design variables. A sensitivity analysis is performed to study the effects of the operational depths and the hull shell geometry parameter, the length-to-diameter ratio (L/D), on the optimal design of filament-wound multilayer-sandwich submersible pressure hulls with graphite/epoxy, glass/epoxy and boron/epoxy composite facings. The results reveal that the optimal weight of various sandwich pressure hulls increases linearly with the operational depth, but it is almost unchanged as the geometry paramter. Furthermore, Graphite/Epoxy is the best choice for the material of the facings in a light-weight design. With reference to wall design, Boron/Epoxy is the best choice for the material of the facing at shallow depths, but Graphite/Epoxy is the best choice at extreme depths. Results of this study provide a valuable reference for designers of underwater vehicles.     

水声信道高速率数据传输的换能器研制

在复杂的水声信道中 ,实现高速率的数据传输 ,水声换能器的带宽是一个重要的技术问题。实验中 ,为了拓宽换能器的带宽 ,我们利用圆柱形压电换能器的径向振动与液腔振动相耦合原理研制自由溢流式换能器和利用纵向振动与前盖板弯曲振动相耦合原理研制纵向振动复合棒换能器。本文介绍适应于复杂的水声信道中 ,进行高速率数据传输的两种宽频带换能器的研制     

Collapse of dome cup ends under external hydrostatic pressure

An experimental investigation was carried out in which four dome cup ends were tested to failure under external hydrostatic pressure. The collapse pressures of the dome cup ends were compared with that of a conventional dome cap end. The investigation revealed that the dome cup ends were structurally more efficient than the conventional dome cap ends. All the vessels were made from the same batch of glass fibre matting and associated material.     

深水压电换能器电声性能的研究

本文通过电换能器的等效机电图,根据压电陶瓷材料的有关参数随压力的变化关系,研究了深水压电换能器在深水高静压力下的电声性能。     

Waveform Shaping of Sonar Transducers for Improving the Vertical Resolution in Sub-bottom Sediments Profiling

Vertical resolution is of fundamental importance in sonar exploration and is directly related to the duration of the acoustic pulse generated by the transducer. The shorter the radiated pulse, the higher the vertical resolution. Many sub-bottom profiling sonar systems use piezoelectric transducers because they are reversible and well understood. Piezoelectric projectors are normally resonant transducers, which are intrinsically narrowband. A piezoelectric transducer is usually driven by a tone-burst. However, it is possible to use Fourier techniques to find a pre-compensated electrical driving function so that the transducer radiates a prescribed wider band acoustic waveform. This technique can be applied to synthesize zero-phase cosine-magnitude, Gaussian, and bionic pulses, with a conventional sandwich transducer. Zero-phase cosine-magnitude waveforms provide minimum length pulses (and therefore maximum resolution) within a prescribed frequency band.The aim of this paper is to illustrate the synthesis of wideband acoustic pulses using an underwater piezoelectric projector. The conventional acoustic waveform radiated when a Tonpiltz transducer is transiently excited using a “click” and allows its frequency response function to be measured. This function is used to design the electrical signal which then drives the transducer so that it radiates the shortest pulse compatible with its mechanical response. The significant resolution enhancement of the waveform shaping process is illustrated by its application to a sediment wedge model.     

设计相关动载荷作用下的水下耐压结构拓扑优化

常规耐压结构拓扑优化设计研究主要集中于静水压条件下的设计相关载荷拓扑优化理论及方法。但是,在深海环境下,耐压结构可能面临内爆所产生的冲击载荷,其载荷呈现高频率的周期性变化。为研究载荷变化对耐压结构优化设计的影响,在BILE模型的基础上,结合修正的SIMP插值模型,开展不同频率、设计相关动载荷作用下的水下耐压结构拓扑优化理论及方法研究。设计相关动载荷的难点在于不仅载荷的作用位置和方向在优化过程中发生变化,且其大小也随优化过程进行而发生变化,这是与常规设计相关静载荷本质的不同。通过经典的拱形结构优化算例验证BILE模型在动力学拓扑优化中的可行性,进而研究设计相关动载荷作用下的水下耐压结构的最佳拓扑形式。研究表明,在低频时,圆环型耐压结构无明显变化,但多球交接耐压结构在交接处会出现明显材料聚集;高频时,两者均发生明显变化,得到耐压结构新形式。关于设计相关动载荷作用下的水下耐压结构拓扑优化研究,将对新型水下耐压结构的探索具有一定的工程应用价值。     

A comparative study of energy performance of hydrostatic seafloor sediment samplers and a new high-efficiency sampler

The hydrostatic energy of high-pressure seawater is a renewable and green energy source for ocean exploration and have been used to replace underwater electrical energy transmission through the cable and underwater battery pack to power seafloor equipment. The advantage of the energy supply method is the cost-effective and the robustness. In the paper, the energy performance of the existing hydrostatic seafloor sediment samplers powered by seawater hydrostatic energy are modelled and analyzed and compared. In view of the common shortcoming of existing technology, a novel hydrostatic seafloor sediment sampler is proposed. The model of energy conversion of the new sampler is built, and its energy performance is obtained. The analysis results indicate that the energy conversion efficiency of the novel sediment sampler is much higher than the existing ones, which means that the new sampler can collect much longer sample with the limited amount of hydrostatic energy. The seawater hydrostatic energy conversion system of the new sampler can also be used to power other seafloor equipment.     

The design of transducers and arrays for underwater datatransmission

Consideration is given to the design of underwater acoustic projector transducers for communication purposes. Particular interest is focused upon broadband designs which provide the potential for high data-rate communication. The author introduces the underlying physics of sound propagation in solid-bar and disc structures typically used for manufacturing underwater acoustic transducers. The variability of sound speed with bar dimensions, in bar resonators, is discussed. Consideration is given to the nature and identification of different modal states in such structures. The possibilities and limitations in modeling and design are reviewed. An examination is made of several specific designs, including thin-disc and broadband high-frequency transducers as well as piston and tonpilz structures modified electrically and mechanically to produce broad, controlled passband responses. A variety of more exotic structures is also included. Attention is given to arrays of transducers and, particularly, to the problems involved in overcoming element interaction and inadequacies in element behavior     

氮化硅陶瓷空心浮力球在内爆临界状态下的失效分析

氮化硅陶瓷具有密度小强度高的优点,在深潜浮力设备领域具有广阔发展前景。然而陶瓷材料固有的脆性以及万米深海严苛的工作环境,使得氮化硅陶瓷空心浮力球在深水环境下面临着内爆的风险。为探究氮化硅陶瓷空心浮力球在内爆临界状态下的失效问题,设计并进行了三点弯曲试验,确定了氮化硅陶瓷材料的力学性能参数,包括弹性模量和破坏应力;随后对氮化硅陶瓷空心浮力球内爆试验的过程及结果进行了回顾总结;基于标准球壳模型与浮力球实物的CT扫描几何模型,对浮力球在内爆临界状态的失效过程进行了有限元仿真分析。结果表明：氮化硅陶瓷空心浮力球的性能存在一定不稳定性;结构内表面局部过大的拉应力是造成失效的主要原因,对内表面进行预加压处理或能提高其抗内爆性能。     

A hydraulic hammer corer utilizing hydrostatic energy for hard seafloor sediment coring

The paper presents the design and preliminary test results of a corer used for hard seafloor sediments sampling.Generally the sediment cores are provided by either gravity-type coring or deep-ocean drilling for a range of studies.However,in consideration of the operability and available sample length in collecting hard sediments,these methods exhibit no advantages.In this paper,a new corer which can exploit both hydrostatic energy and gravity energy for hard sediments coring is presented.The hydrostatic energy is provided by pressure differential between ambient seawater pressure and air pressure in an empty cavity.During sampling process,the corer penetrates into the sediment like a gravity corer and then automatically shifts to the percussion mode.The experiments in the laboratory indicate that the corer can complete 40 cycles in the sea with a cycle time of 2.8 seconds in percussion mode and impact the sample tube with the velocity of 0.2 m/s during each cycle.Besides,its adjustable falling velocity can make the corer achieve the maximum efficiency in coring different sediments.     

含腐蚀缺陷高强钢厚壁管道压溃压力预测方法

腐蚀是管道常见的缺陷形式之一,会极大降低管道的压溃压力,同时深海环境下高静水外压易引发管道压溃失效,威胁管道的安全运行,因此准确预测管道压溃压力显得尤为重要。采用数值模拟方法研究了含腐蚀缺陷的高强钢厚壁管道压溃失效模式,分析了管材、管道径厚比、腐蚀深度、长度和宽度等参数对高强钢厚壁管道压溃压力的影响规律。分析结果表明:管道径厚比愈大,对厚壁管道的承压能力提升愈显著;腐蚀缺陷的存在对管道压溃压力具有减小作用;随着管道材料等级的提升,压溃压力有明显提高。提出了相应的压溃压力预测公式,为厚壁管道完整性评价提供了参考依据。     

The buckling of GRP hemi-ellipsoidal dome shells under external hydrostatic pressure

The paper reports on a theoretical and an experimental investigation into six GRP hemi-ellipsoidal dome shells, which were tested to destruction under external hydrostatic pressure. All six domes were of oblate shape and of three different aspect ratios. Each aspect ratio consisted of two dome shells, one made from two layers of glass fibre and one made from three layers of glass fibre. The theoretical analysis was via the finite element method where a non-linear theory was used which allowed for both geometrical and material non-linearity. Comparison between theory and experiment was good.     

全海深ARV抛载系统研发及深海试验

抛载系统是水下机器人安全工作的核心关键部分。以“思源号”全海深ARV（自治缆控水下机器人）为研究对象，开展ARV作业过程中压载水下释放问题研究。通过在ARV底盘下侧布置下潜抛载模块，上艇体两侧对称布置上浮抛载模块，设计了一套基于电磁驱动的超高压水下抛载系统。利用Maxwell 2D电磁场有限元分析软件对非接触式电磁铁作了静磁场数值分析，得到电磁铁的磁力线与磁通密度分布图，验证了抛载电磁铁可以满足压载吸附和抛弃的功能。设计了一种非磁性钛合金隔离片，用于消除电磁铁断电后存在的吸附效应，解决了抛载失败的问题。开展了电磁吸力测试、可靠性试验、超高压试验以及深海试验，试验结果验证了所设计的全海深ARV抛载系统能够在深海环境下实现水下释放压载，为全海深ARV实现上浮下潜和水下浮态控制提供重要保障。     

后挖沟深度对深海海底管道屈曲影响数值分析

鉴于海底管道的服役水深越来越深,主要采用犁式挖沟机对预铺设于海床之上的海底管道采取后挖沟的方式将海底管道埋设于海床之下,以保护其免受不必要的损伤。针对后挖沟深度H是海底挖沟机的重要设计参数,也是影响管道悬跨的重要因素的问题,对SMD(UK)犁式挖沟机展开参数优化,确保作业过程中悬跨段管道在外部静水压力作用下,海底管道不会发生屈曲破坏。采用ABAQUS软件,分别建立了作业前和作业中两种工况下的悬跨模型,分析机械手对接触部分管道的损伤,结果显示,作业中的机械手对悬跨管道的损伤更大;同时,建立了作业中不同管径下,后挖沟深度对管道损伤的安全裕量关系曲线。进一步,结合作业中不同挖沟深度下的管跨段屈曲数值模型,对处于外部静水压力作用下的悬跨管的屈曲失效展开分析,结果显示,随着后挖沟深度的加大,不同管径下的悬跨段管道局部出现塑性压溃的临界压力值不断降低;管道外径的增大,降低了同一后挖沟深度下发生屈曲失效的压力值。最后,在后挖沟深度与外部静水压力组成的区域内,建立屈曲失效临界关系曲线,并划分出工作区和压溃区,为深海管道后挖沟埋管的施工提供工程参考。     

静水压力变化对NTC热敏电阻器电学特性影响

负温度系数(negative temperature coefficient,NTC)热敏电阻器由于在窄温区内具有极高的灵敏度,在海洋领域中有着广泛的应用,但深海应用中固有的高静水压力,对器件的测温准确度造成不利影响。为了更好地认识这种现象,以珠状NTC热敏电阻器为研究对象,利用海洋环境高压模拟装置,开展了静水压力作用对器件电学特性影响的研究,固定环境温度25℃和0℃,压力范围0~60 MPa,步长5 MPa。结果显示,随着静水压力的增大,NTC热敏电阻器的电阻值减小;环境温度25℃和0℃时,5~60 MPa的静水压力造成的漂移分别为-0.11%~-2.81%、-0.19%~-2.78%,等效于温度漂移分别为0.024~0.624℃、0.036~0.535℃。这为热敏电阻器在深海温度准确测量的提升提供了指引,有利于在海洋测温领域中更好的应用。     

基于可重置联邦滤波器的水下运载体导航定位方法

单一导航系统无法满足水下运载体高精度、高可靠性的导航需求,文中根据常用水下导航系统的特点,提出基于可重置联邦滤波器的水下运载体导航定位方案,设计了以惯导系统(INS)为主参考系统,声学定位系统/深度计、多普勒计程仪(DVL)、罗经为子参考系统的联邦滤波器,并进行了仿真研究。结果表明文中设计的滤波器能有效融合各个传感器的导航信息,实现水下运载体高精度导航定位,并具有一定容错性。     

A conceptual design of an underwater vehicle

The paper presents a conceptual design of an underwater star wars’ system, which will be more difficult to detect by the enemy than a recently proposed ‘surface’ star wars’ system.The paper suggests that for the proposed structures needed for the underwater star wars’ system, the material of construction should be a composite and not a metal, as use of the latter for large deep diving underwater vessels will result in such structures sinking to the bottom of the ocean like stones, due to the fact that they will have no reserve buoyancy. The paper also shows that composites have better sound absorption characteristics, thereby making the underwater structures difficult to detect through sonar equipment. It is proposed that these underwater structures should operate up to a depth of 7.16 miles (11.52 km), as at this depth, all of the oceans’ bottoms can be reached.The author shows that current technology can be used to construct and operate such vessels, but more progress needs to be made with metal matrix and ceramic composites, so that the hulls of underwater missiles and torpedoes can be constructed in these materials.     

Optimum design of multiple intersecting spheres deep-submerged pressure hull

The multiple intersecting spheres (MIS) pressure hull is a logical derivative of the single unstiffened sphere, which is frequently used for deep operating, small submersibles because of its attractive low buoyancy factor. This paper investigates the optimum design of an MIS deep-submerged pressure hull subjected to hydrostatic pressure, using a powerful optimization procedure combined the extended interior penalty function method (EIPF) with the Davidon–Fletcher–Powell (DFP) method. In this study, the thickness of the shell, the width of the rib-ring, the inner radius of the rib-ring and the angle of intersection of the spherical shell are selected as design variables, and structural failure and human requirements are considered to minimize the buoyancy factor. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to study the influence of the design variables on the optimal structural strength design. The results reveal that the shell thickness is most important to lobar buckling strength, and that rib-ring width, rib-ring inner radius and spherical shell intersection angle are most important to rib-ring hoop strength. Optimization results may provide a valuable reference for designers.