ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OF THE UNDERWATER SPARK DISCHARGE

Abstract

An investigation was made of the underwater spark discharge as a means of converting electrical to acoustic energy. The medium is a fundamental part of the transduction process. An underwater spark discharge is formed by switching an energy storage capacitor at a high voltage to a pair of submerged electrodes. An ionized plasma at high temperature and pressure is formed between the electrodes. The pressure within the plasma is transmitted to the surrounding water as a wave of compression similar to the shock wave created by an underwater explosion. An analysis of the electro-acoustic properties of the underwater spark is presented. The sonic energy radiated from the underwater spark discharge is discussed, and the directional properties of the radiated pressure are derived. Properties of the underwater spark discharge plasma as a circuit element are investigated. An electrical equivalent for the discharge circuit is developed from a knowledge of the variation of channel area with time. The theoretical results are compared with experimental ones for a fresh water underwater spark discharge.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0259947

Entities

People

  • Sheldon Gardner

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Properties
  • Electrical Properties
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Equivalent Circuits
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Ideal Gas Law
  • Internal Pressure
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Potential Energy
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Radiation
  • Underwater Explosions
  • Wave Propagation
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics