Hull mounted passive sonar sensor based on accelerometers for improved low frequency detection

Hyeongmin Mun; Chang Hoon Lee; Woosuk Chang; Donghyeon Kim; Eunghwy Noh; Junho Hong; Seonghun Pyo; Kyungseop Kim

doi:10.7776/ASK.2026.45.3.219

All Issue

2026 Vol.45, Issue 3 Next Page

Hull mounted passive sonar sensor based on accelerometers for improved low frequency detection 저주파 탐지 성능 개선을 위한 가속도계 기반 선체부착형 수동 소나센서

31 May 2026. pp. 219-228

PDF XML

Abstract

For hull-mounted passive sonar systems, insulating self noise and vibration generated from the hull structure is critical to the sonar detection performance. To address this issue, recent researches have explored the integration of accelerometers alongside conventional acoustic sensors such as pressure hydrophones, in passive sonar applications. In this study, a hull-mounted passive sonar sensor utilizing accelerometers as acoustic sensors is developed, and its performance is evaluated in comparison with traditional passive sonar detecting acoustic pressure. The accelerometers are designed, fabricated and tested at the level of a single element, accelerometers array, and sonar sensor module including baffle structure, and their results are compared with predicted finite element analysis results. The proposed accelerometer-based sonar sensor demonstrates better performance than conventional pressure hydrophone-based sonar sensor, particularly when compared in terms of noise insulation which evaluated as difference between front and rear sensitivities. It also shows good possibility to minimize weight and thickness of the sonar module, which could be very important factor in ship design viewpoint.

Keywords

Passive sonar

Accelerometer

Acoustic baffle

Front and rear sensitivity difference

선체부착형 수동소나는 탐지 성능을 향상시키기 위해 후방에서 발생하는 함내 소음 및 진동을 효과적으로 차단하는 것이 중요하다. 이를 위해 최근 기존의 음향센서와 더불어 가속도계를 적용한 수동 소나에 대한 연구가 진행 중이다. 본 논문에서는 가속도계 기반의 선체부착형 수동 소나센서를 설계 및 제작하여 기존의 음압 감지식 하이드로폰을 사용한 소나센서와 비교하여 성능을 검증하였다. 개별 가속도계에서부터 가속도계 배열, 배플을 포함한 소나센서 모듈 단위까지 단계적으로 유한요소 해석을 통해 예측된 결과와 시험 결과와의 비교를 통해 가속도계 기반 소나센서의 수신 성능을 검증하였다. 또한 기존의 음압 하이드로폰 기반의 수동 소나센서와 비교하여 저주파 대역의 전후방 감도 차이에서 개선된 성능을 확인하였다. 이는 소나센서의 중량과 두께를 현저히 낮출 수 있기 때문에 함정 설계 측면에서도 상당한 이점이 된다.

키워드

수동 소나센서

가속도계

음향 배플

전후방 감도 차이

References

J. L. Butler and C. H. Sherman, Transducers and Arrays for Underwater Sound, 2nd edition (Springer Nature, Cham, 2016), pp. 435-440.

Y. Je, Y. Cho, K. Kim, Y.-W. Kim, S. Park, and J.-M. Lee, “A study on temperature dependent acoustic receiving characteristics of underwater acoustic sensors” (in Korean), J. Acoust. Soc. Kr. 38, 214-221 (2019).

B. A. Cray and R. A. Christman, “Acoustic and vibration performance evaluations of a velocity sensing hull array,” AIP Conf. Proc. 368, 177-188 (1996).

10.1063/1.50337

J. Kim, S. Pyo, and Y. Roh, “Analysis of a thickness-shear mode vibrator for the accelerometer in vector hydrophones,” Sens. Actuators A, Phys. 266, 9-14 (2017).

10.1016/j.sna.2017.09.007

S. Pyo, J. Kim, H. Kim, and Y. Roh, “Development of vector hydrophone using thickness-shear mode piezoelectric single crystal accelerometer,” Sens. Actuators A, Phys. 283, 220-227 (2018).

10.1016/j.sna.2018.09.066

T. Roh, H. G. Yeo, C. Joh, Y. Roh, K. Kim, H. Seo, and H. Choi, “Fabrication and underwater testing of a vector hydrophone comprising a triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer and spherical hydrophone,” Sensors, 22, 9796 (2022).

10.3390/s2224979636560165PMC9786077

D. Seo, W. Chang, D. Kim, E. Noh, and J. Yang, “Study on improving passive sonar detection using acoustic vibration matching method for front and rear signal of complex sensor” (in Korean), J. Acoust. Soc. Kr. 43, 145-151 (2024).

M. Serridge and T. R. Licht, Piezoelectric AcceleroMeter and Vibration Preamplifier Handbook (Brüel & Kjær, Nærum, 1987), pp. 88-105.

D. T. Blackstock, Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2000), pp. 130-144.

Information

Publisher :The Acoustical Society of Korea
Publisher(Ko) :한국음향학회
Journal Title :The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
Journal Title(Ko) :한국음향학회지
Volume : 45
No :3
Pages :219-228
Received Date : 2025-11-13
Revised Date : 2026-05-26
Accepted Date : 2026-05-28
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7776/ASK.2026.45.3.219

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of KoreaISSN:1225-4428(Print) 2287-3775(Online)한국음향학회

All Issue