Advancements in Buried Mine Detection Using Seismic Sonar
Abstract
Buried mines continue to disrupt the U.S. ability to project naval power ashore, conduct amphibious assaults, and wage land campaigns. Ibis thesis describes advances in the development of a seismic sonar research tool that resulted in the successful detection of a Mk-63, 1000 Ib, mine shape and a M-19, 20 lb, anti-tank mine. This seismic sonar research investigates the concept of using echo returns of a particular seismic interface wave, known as a Rayleigh wave, to detect buried mines. Rayleigh waves are unique in that they have elliptical particle motion that allows one to use vector polarization filtering to separate Rayleigh wave target reflections from other body waves with linear particle motion. A new source design employed in an array of seven elements has been shown to form a narrow beam of Rayleigh wave energy in a sand medium at the navy beach test site. This source beam, coupled with the receiver beam formed by an array of five three-component seismometers has provided a successful bi-static seismic sonar configuration. Signal to noise ratios of 21 dB for the Mk-63 mine shape, and 9 dB for the M-19 anti-tank mine were observed in the target echoes. These experimental results suggest that the seismic sonar is a very promising concept for buried mine detection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA386340
Entities
People
- Kraig E. Sheetz
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School