Acoustic Target Scattering
The acoustic scattering of naval structures, often referred to as target
strength, embodies one of the most difficult problems in classical physics.
The size of most underwater naval vehicles results in an acoustic scattering
response which simultaneously spans many decades of physical scales. The
overall scattering process is governed at global scales by elastic structural
response and at local scales by mutually coherent scattering from facets of
the structure. Under such conditions the range of multi-scale phenomena
which must be considered presents a major analytical and experimental
challenge. Theoretical insight is needed to provide simplifying
assumptions which describe the dominant physical response, permit
identification and separation of global and local responses, and lead to
prediction of the overall acoustic scattering response across the span of
multi-scales of interest. Based on this understanding, algorithms can be
developed and numerical codes constructed for use with large scale and/or
massively parallel computers to address target signature reduction within
the overall design process.
-L.L.Thompson
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