Understanding heating effects in rubber to innovate continuously active sonar technologies

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Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems Inc. manufactures and exports Canadian SONAR systems worldwide, including underwater acoustic projectors that are based on Free Flooded Ring (FFR) technology. The FFR consists of a donut-shaped piezoceramic ring, encased in an electrically insulating rubber boot, that vibrates to radiate acoustic waves into the surrounding water. At present, commercial FFRs use a pulsed mode with a specified maximum duty cycle that allows heat to dissipate between pings. However, Ultra is now working to use FFRs in a Continuously Active Sonar (CAS) mode with a 100% duty cycle. This would provide them with a great competitive advantage in the international market. During preliminary tests, the pings from the FFR piezoelectric induced severe acoustic heating in the rubber boot, which dramatically reduced the intensity of the radiated waves. The mechanism of this undesirable heating is not understood, and eliminating this energy loss is critical for successful commercial implementation of CAS technology. To address these problems, a new partnership between Ultra and the applicant will seek solutions to prevent these unwanted heating effects by innovating the FFR design technology. This collaboration will advance an emerging ocean-related technology, and will help a Canadian company capture a unique position to lead an international market.