Structural Acoutics (U)

Structural Acoustics refers to a discipline in which mechanical and electrical engineers and materials scientists work in concert to reduce the passive acoustic signature, sonar self noise, and scattering target strength of submarines. The use of less conventional shapes, new materials such as composites, and modern computer technology for active control, should produce even more capable and stealthy submarines without a concomitant increase in space and weight. If the discipline of structural acoustics is to develop to its full potential, some effort must be made to change the conventional working relationship between the structural engineer, material scientist, and acoustician, so that at a very early stage of design a unified system approach is adopted.