Steven J. Hughes
Defence Res. Establishment Atlantic, P.O. Box 1012, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3Z7, Canada
Researchers at the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic (DREA) have been active since 1986 in the development of the barrel-stave flextensional projector. Intended primarily for use in sonar systems, the barrel-stave projector promises to be a small, light-weight projector with high power and low resonance frequency. This paper describes work in progress aimed at increasing the power output of the projector by nearly doubling the mass of ceramic in the drive element, and at improving operability at depth by implementing passive pressure compensation.