Simulation of underwater echo reduction using miniaturized Helmholtz resonators

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the echo reduction performance of miniaturinzed Helmholtz resonators using smaller than wavelength acoustic metamaterial structures. The Helmholtz resonators are formed using air structures which exhibit large impedance mismatch with the surrounding underwater environment. Using the multi-physics software package, we fmd that significant reduction in the sonar signature is expected and frequency tailoring is possible by controlling the degree of space coiling and inner volume of the resonators. We fmd that for the basic Helmholtz resonators, up to 7 dB reduction in echo is expected at 10,000 Hz while when the miniaturized Helmoholtz resonators are used, up to 14 dB reduction in echo is expected at 5,000 Hz. In addition, frequency tailoring is demonstrated by varying the internal volume of the Helmholtz resonators and broadband characteristic is shown using superposition of various degree of space coiled structures. Through this study we investigate the effectiveness of the miniaturized Helmholtz resonators formed using air structures and the echo reduction results show promisses in the application of achieving underwater stealth.