Physics-based detection of man-made elastic objects buried in high-density-clutter areas of saturated sediments

At low-to-mid frequencies (1–15 kHz), sound penetrates better into lossy saturated sediments such as sandy seabeds than at the higher frequencies typical of many sonar systems. At the lower frequencies the signature of a man-made object, such as an oil can or a mine, is characterized by relatively strong elastic components that may help in detecting the object when partially or totally buried in high-density-clutter areas. Using simulations, we studied the low frequency elastic response of representative elastic objects such as spherical and cylindrical shells. This was done by selecting the strongest elastic waves supported and predicting how their characteristics (i.e., dispersion and attenuation) change as the bottom type or the object’s burial depth varies. Based on this study, experimental results of physics-based detection of man-made buried objects are shown. At-sea data were selected from the measurements conducted during the GOATS’98 trial in a cluttered, sandy seabed area in coastal waters.