Abstract
To meet the expected need for wide-area acoustic navigation for Lagrangian studies of ocean circulation using RAFOS floats, a new and powerful sound source, a resonant pipe projector has been developed. It consists of a free-flooded open steel pipe with a ceramic-steel driver ring at its midsection. Conservatively demonstrated here at a source level of 195.5 dB re 1 µpa @ 1 m and with an energy conversion efficiency of 85% at resonance (260 Hz), useful operating ranges to 4000 km and beyond are possible, depending on ambient noise conditions. A successful 6-month accelerated test of the complete transducer system was recently completed near Bermuda.
