Acoustics-based IED Detection and Neutralization
Abstract
Despite significant technical investment by the U.S. Department of Defense, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remain a pressing threat to today’s warfighter. The present effort seeks to help address this threat by leveraging the PIs’ prior work on energetic materials mechanics and detection, as well acoustics, structural vibrations, and wave propagation, to significantly advance the state-of-the-art as related to acoustic-based IED detection and neutralization. For the proposed effort, the PIs will specifically seek to: (i) explore the ability of inhomogeneous (e.g., evanescent) waves to enhance acoustic transmission between multiple impedance-mismatched interfaces and extend current understanding to account for finite-sized acoustic beams and finitesized targets; (ii) determine the optimal wave characteristics to achieve maximum acoustic transmission across relevant material interfaces; (iii) develop wave generation strategies, founded upon distributed acoustic source arrays, which can be used to developed tailored inhomogeneous acoustic waves; (iv) experimentally characterize wave speed and dispersion characteristics of mock energetic and energetic materials; and (v) demonstrate the ability of stand-off acoustic waves to induce stress fields in, and subsequently heat, plastic-bonded mock energetic and energetic materials as a means of enabling stand-off detection using optical, infrared, or vaporbased sensors. The PIs believe that completion of the five aforementioned tasks will allow them, working in conjunction with counterparts in the Department of Defense, to make a clear declaration on the utility of acoustic-based IED detection. Additionally, the proposed effort should lay the necessary technical (basic research) groundwork for subsequent applied research studies aimed at transitioning the concept to the field, either as a stand-alone system or a useful complement to sensing systems based upon optical and infrared methodologies or distributed microscale sensor arrays.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141612275
Entities
People
- Jeffrey F. Rhoads
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Virginia