Abstract: An acoustic transducer of the flexural strain gauge type, in which a shell body of oblong section is stressed by a motor along a major axis of this section. A viscoelastic element absorbs the slow deformation of the shell under the effect of submersion. The viscoelastic element exhibits a considerable stiffness at the frequencies of use of the transducer so as to transmit the vibrations from the motor to the shell with adequate efficiency. Such a device makes it possible to manufacture a flexural stain gauge transducer capable of withstanding considerable submersion without the motor fracturing and the efficiency of which is greater than 75%.

Abstract: A low-frequency hydrophone for a sonar array comprises at least a lacunary ceramics element with open porosity saturated by a viscous fluid, on which metal electrodes have been deposited. This hydrophone forms a high-pass filter whose cutoff frequency is adjusted by modulating the area of the electrodes. The present invention may find particular application in towed linear arrays and passive sonars.

Abstract: To manufacture an anechoic coating which prevents a wall from reflecting acoustic waves, the wall is coated with an elastic material of low compressibility, which is highly absorbent under shear stresses, and then with a highly compressible layer of material. A set of plates covers the second layer and vibrates under the effect of the acoustic waves. Rods fixed to these plates transmit these vibrations to the first layer which is thus subjected to shear stresses and dissipates the energy of the vibrations, thus making it possible to avoid the sonar detection of submarines.

Abstract: A self-guidance system for submarine vehicles containing a parametric sonar including preformed channel, transmission device and, in each channel, two beams at the primary frequencies formed simultaneously. Reception takes place with preformed beams at the primary and the secondary frequencies followed by a filter giving frequential channels. An echo comparator receives the signals at the primary and secondary frequencies and enables interference echoes from decoys in particular to be eliminated and the rudders to be controlled.

Abstract: An improved-performance transducer for deep submersion operation.An axially operating sandwich type transducer has its active part arranged in a housing designed and embodied to form a filter for decoupling the active face. Such a transducer is usable in systems for underwater acoustics.