Magnetoelastic Geophones and Hydrophones
Abstract
In this project we will explore the design space of magnetoelastic inertial sensors and hydrophones and compare the performance of m,agnetoelastic sensors against sensors already commonly used for underwater acoustic sensing. The goal of this project is therefore,to explore the potential merits of magnetoelastic transducers and to identify across what frequencies and for what use-cases the sen,sors might offer interesting advantages. The project is inspired by prototype sensors summarized in reference [1]. Thro,ugh 2021 and 2022, PI Hall and PM Traweek have been in contact with the author of this work and the builder of these pro,totypes. In a preliminary experimental study with these prototypes in PI Hall s lab, sensitivity measurements and electrical,admittance spectroscopy were used to extract key information regarding these prototypes. This study confirmed that the sensors, have a native response to "jerk," the time derivative of acceleration. The study also confirmed that the prototypes, have a higher sensitivity than a conventional low-noise geophone at frequencies above 70 Hz, while utilizing a suspension at,least 1,000x stiffer. The study also confirmed that the sensors have low output impedance, similar to conventional geophones. This t,hird property suggests that passive sensors might be possible (i.e., sensors with no electronics), which can result in simple design,s that might be beneficial for some applications. The native jerk response, the potential for high SNR, and the low-out impedance,of these prototypes make this class of sensors interesting and motivate this study. Approved for Public Release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212502
Entities
People
- Neal A. Hall
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Texas at Austin