Advancements in buried mine detection using seismic sonar
By: Kraig E. Sheetz
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 84
Description: Buried mines continue to disrupt the U.S. ability to project naval power ashore, conduct amphibious assaults, and wage land campaigns. Ibis thesis describes advances in the development of a seismic sonar research tool that resulted in the successful detection of a Mk-63, 1000 Ib, mine shape and a M-19, 20 lb, anti-tank mine. This seismic sonar research investigates the concept of using echo returns of a particular seismic interface wave, known as a Rayleigh wave, to detect buried mines. Rayleigh waves are unique in that they have elliptical particle motion that allows one to use vector polarization filtering to separate Rayleigh wave target reflections from other body waves with linear particle motion. A new source design employed in an array of seven elements has been shown to form a narrow beam of Rayleigh wave energy in a sand medium at the navy beach test site. This source beam, coupled with the receiver beam formed by an array of five three-component seismometers has provided a successful bi- static seismic sonar configuration. Signal to noise ratios of 21 dB for the Mk- 63 mine shape, and 9 dB for the M-19 anti-tank mine were observed in the target echoes. These experimental results suggest that the seismic sonar is a very promising concept for buried mine detection.
Notes: Thesis advisor, Muir,  Thomas G. ; Second Reader: Baker, Steven R.

DTIC Descriptor(s): Mine Detection, Signal To Noise Ratio, Seismic Waves, Sonar, Mine Warfare, Polarization, Detection, Amphibious Operations, Reflection, Configurations, Receivers, Vector Analysis, Salaries, Buried Objects, Beaches, Test Facilities, Land Mines, Seismology, Land Areas, Target Echoes, Antitank Mines, Rayleigh Waves, Ellipses, Bistatic Detection, Mines(Ordnance), Narrow Beams(Radiation)

Author(s) subject terms: Mine Warfare, Buried Mine Detection, Seismic Sonoar, Surface Waves

"December 2000."

Thesis (M.S. in Applied Physics) Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2000.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80)

"Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited"-Cover.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

Outstanding Thesis.

US Army (USA) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 3/13/01