THE EFFECT OF INTERNAL OSCILLATORS ON THE ACOUSTIC RESPONSE OF A SUBMERGED SHELL

The effect of a large number (approximate to 1000) of internal mechani cal oscillators on the acoustic backscattering cross section of a subm erged ribbed shell has been experimentally investigated. A comparison of the backscattering cross section of the shell with oscillators to t hat of a simple ribbed shell with no oscillators shows a number of sig nificant effects arising from the internal structure and overall a sig nificantly increased average scattering strength. These results are pr esented and several physical mechanisms which can account for the sali ent aspects of the observations are discussed.