The primary objective of this research project is to accurately define the experimental procedures necessary to determine the optimum frequencies and bandwidths for use in a bottom mine detection and classification sonar system. In order to accomplish this task, four areas of study have been identified. First, suitable test sites must be located and qualified. Second, appropriate bottom conditions for the test must be determined and these must be correlated to the existing test sites. Third, appropriate mine-like targets must be designed and analyzed. And, fourth, a suitable breadboard sonar system, including transponders, must be specified. In order to arrive at a realistic and achievable specification, a variety of factors will be investigated, including near-field and free-field mine target strength response patterns, mine burial, mine case design, acoustic bandwidth, target aspect angle bottom reverberation, grazing angles, bottom types and other factors relating to the practical implementation of acoustic systems.
