Acoustics facilities in MD
6 facilities
Acoustic Research Detachment
West Bethesda, MD
The Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), Bayview, Idaho, on Lake Pend Oreille, is used for research and design validation using quarter-scale models of methodologies to reduce acoustic signatures on ships. Lake Pend Oreille is a large, deep, and extremely quiet body of water, ideal for acoustic testing. ARD encompasses the Large Scale Vehicle, a quarter-scale fully-autonomous submarine, used for propulsor research and submarine maneuvering studies; the Intermediate Scale Measurement System (ISMS) used to conduct research in acoustic radiation and target strength of submarines; the flow-noise haul-down facility used to conduct research on the impact of fluid flow over and about submarine hulls; and, a facility to test the high speed flow induced noise of towed arrays.
Anechoic Flow Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The facility has two areas in which measurements can be made: a nine foot long closed jet test section of eight feet square cross section, and a 21 foot long open-jet test section surrounded by an anechoic chamber of 21 foot square cross section. The maximum air speed in the facility is 200 feet per second. Noise generated at full speed is less than that of conversational speech. Models up to 20 feet may be mounted in the facility. Commercial uses for this facility include the automobile and aircraft industries as well as environmental applications.
Machinery Acoustic Silencing Laboratory
West Bethesda, MD
This laboratory consists of three large anechoic/quiet rooms with isolated floors containing facilities for the measurement and characterization of low-level airborne, fluidborne, and structureborne generated noise of full-scale shipboard machinery. The large scale machinery anechoic chamber has a 3900 square foot test area and a 50 foot high ceiling; floor loading is 700 pounds per square foot. The total test area of three rooms exceeds 14,000 square feet. Programs to develop quiet machinery technology and prototype hardware for all classes of submarine and surface ships are supported by this laboratory. Research and development is conducted for quiet pumps, fans, ventilation and fluid systems, valves, mounts, electric motors and generators, and other machinery components and systems.
South Florida Testing Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The South Florida Testing Facility is a fully instrumented test range that encompasses a Shallow Water Acoustic Range; a Shallow and Intermediate Depth Electromagnetic Range; a Forward Area Combined Degaussing and Acoustic Range; and an area with deep and shallow mine fields. The area has extensive current and temperature measurement probes that allow full environmental definition. The facility supports submarines, surface ships, the mine community and oceanographic research
Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC) is the Navy’s only West Coast asset for making high fidelity passive acoustic signature measurements. SEAFAC includes directive line arrays, data collection and processing systems for real-time data analysis and signature evaluation.
USNS HAYES
West Bethesda, MD
The USNS HAYES is the Navy’s sole East Coast asset for making high fidelity passive and active acoustic signature measurements on submarines. HAYES includes high gain measurement arrays, data collection and processing systems for real-time data analysis and signature evaluation. HAYES is equipped with the Navy’s only certified Target Strength measurement system and a towed array that can be used for long time data collection of submarine emanating noise sources.