Preston S. Wilson
Thomas G. Muir
John A. Behrens
Appl. Res. Labs. Univ. Of Texas, P.O. Box 8029, Austin, TX 78713-8029
Janet L. Elizey
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
The combustive sound source (CSS) can be used to generate high-intensity, low-frequency acoustic energy in a variety of mediums by using deployment configurations suitable to each medium. The basic principle of operation remains configuration independent. A gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture is introduced into a combustion chamber and ignited with a spark. The ensuing combustion produces a bubble of expanding gas which, in turn produces high-intensity, low-frequency acoustic pulses. Three different deployment configuration experiments will be discussed, including water column, ocean-bottom seismic, and earth-surface seismic. In-situ measured energy levels and spectra produced by CSS are compared to other sources typical to each medium, including explosive and inertial. It is shown that CSS is capable of producing bulk waves in both water and earth mediums, as well as seismic interface waves for both air/earth and water/sea floor cases. It is demonstrated that CSS is a truly versatile acoustic energy source with a low cost deployment configuration which can be tailored easily to different environments. [Work supported by the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research.]