External Pipe Sound Pressure Level Sensor Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T016 Topic Title: External Pipe Sound Pressure Level Sensor Proposal No.: N10A-016-0316 Firm: Applied Physical Sciences Corp. 475 Bridge Street Suite 100 Groton, Connecticut 06340 Contact: Matthew Conti Phone: (781) 861-2039 Web Site: www.aphysci.com Abstract: Applied Physical Sciences (APS) and the Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory (ARL/PSU) will collaborate in the development of a novel sensor system to measure the low frequency acoustic pressures within a fluid-filled pipe. The proposed concept improves upon the Navy's current Array Based Acoustic Measurement (ABAM) system for laboratory characterization of full-scale piping components. The initial trade study will consider a range of sensing options including discrete sensor arrays and conformal sensors consisting of film and fiber wraps. The trades will balance sensitivity to the acoustic pressures against rejection of non-acoustically driven response, structural response, weight, cost, and ease of application in a shipboard environment. The design effort will leverage the team's significant experience with measurements and modeling of pipe structural-acoustic response, as well as experience developing sensors for many of the Navy's most challenging applications. Benefits: The proposed sensor concept would provide a new low frequency capability that would make it feasible to indirectly measure the acoustic pressures within a range of piping systems, and be sufficiently insensitive to contamination from structural modes. The system will be easy to install and remove, and will provide a single output proportional to the acoustic pressure. Return