Underwater acoustics at Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

Several University of Texas physicists and acousticians served at the Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory during World War II. Among them was Associate Director Paul Boner who founded Applied Research Laboratories (ARL:UT) upon his return to Texas in 1945. The underwater acoustics program began in 1949 under sponsorship of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in support of passive sea mine sensors. The talk will focus on growth of the program in the early years including basic research, advancements in sonar engineering and signal processing, torpedo, mine and mine countermeasures (for both ocean and riverine environments), work on ship signatures, sediment physics and properties, target strength, submarine and anti-submarine sonar for both active and passive modes, in-situ calibration of ship transducers, environmental acoustics, long-range propagation and modeling, and nonlinear acoustics. ARL:UT’s participation and support of the university’s missions of research, education, and public service will also be discussed.