Energy density source levels of underwater explosive charges

Abstract

This paper presents experimental measurements of energy density source levels of small explosive charges for high frequencies to 18 kHz. The experiments were carried out using Signals Underwater Sound (SUS) charges deployed at a deep water site in a coastal fiord north of Vancouver BC. The waveform of an underwater explosion is characterized by a high intensity shock wave signal followed by a series of bubble pulses of decreasing intensity. The bubble pulses dominate the SUS energy density spectrum at frequencies below 1 kHz, but at higher frequencies the spectrum is dominated by the characteristics of the decay envelope of the shock wave signal. The explosive material in SUS charges is packed in a thin cylindrical cavity, resulting in a non-uniform decay envelope with secondary pulses when detonated, and a non-spherical distribution of the radiated sound. The impact of the cylindrical charge shape on energy density source level was investigated experimentally. Data were recorded for SUS deployments that generated in-line and broadside sound propagation to the receiver with respect to the axis of the cylindrical charge. Experimental measurements indicate significant differences in the high frequency SUS energy density spectrum depending upon the SUS and receiver geometry.