defence marine

Surface ships
Sonar domes, High performance sonar domes, Acoustic stealth treatments, Hull fairings, RAM composites and gun turrets,
MCM composites, Towed bodies
Tods have a 50-year history supplying the UK Royal Navy and many other Navies throughout the world, Tod composites and acoustic
treatments provide low maintenance solutions for ASW warfare giving quieter operational platforms, maximised sonar sensitivity and
platform signature reduction.
A strong design capability coupled with an
extensive knowledge of materials technology is
essential to provide innovative, practical, composite
products for enhanced operational requirements.
Tods composite products include
Fibre reinforced Composite Sonar Domes
Turbulent flow noise reduction treatments
Hull fairings and sonar baffles
Composite grilles, Jalousies, hatches, ROV boxes, covers and enclosures
Signature management
Typical Fibre Reinforced Composites will include Carbon, Glass, Quartz, HDPE and Kevlar with Polyester, Phenolic and Epoxy thermoset
resin systems.
Fibre reinforced composite sonar domes
The optimum sonar performance of warships is dependent on the ability of the platform to provide a noise free sonar environment.
Noise contribution to the background level at the sonar array is a consequence of 3 typical
sources, ships noise (vibration and machinery induced), sea state and turbulent flow noise.
Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) domes have long been employed as low cost, high strength,
lightweight material enclosures, tuned to the array frequency to minimise the transmission
loss from target to array in active or passive operation.
Sonar domes were historically sited amidships as keel-mounted systems, but the need for
maximising ASW and torpedo detection capability has moved the primary sonar array to the
bow to reduce the effects of the internal noise sources.
Turbulent flow noise reduction treatments
Under dynamic conditions the turbulent energy generated by the ship
moving through the water can couple into the dome creating
vibrational modes that contribute to platform self noise.
New external damping treatments based on polyurethane elastomers
reduce the effects of turbulent flow noise radiated from the FRP sonar
dome and improve the dynamic performance of the array across a
wide range of sea states and ships speeds by reducing the effects of
background noise.

defence marine

Surface ships
Sonar domes, High performance sonar domes, Acoustic stealth treatments, Hull fairings, RAM composites and gun turrets,
MCM composites, Towed bodies
Hull fairings and sonar baffles
Traditional keel mounted sonar domes often require hull fairings to minimise the effects of
flow noise. Constructed from identical materials to the sonar keel dome, the fairings
provide an easily removable surface to get access to the dome during refit and sonar
maintenance operations. Blending the ships hull lines to the sonar dome shape provides
the most cost effective hydrodynamic solution for selecting an off the shelf dome
construction.
Constructed with a stern arc baffle a keel mounted sonar dome can reduce the effects of
propeller noise and internal acoustic treatments can help isolate the ships internal
machinery generated noise affecting the sensitivity of the sonar system.
Topside composite structures
A wide range of traditional steel structures and components are being replaced by composites. Reduction of topside weight is a primary
requirement to maintain ships speed requirements and to reduce fuel costs.
Composites bring additional benefits when considered as specifically engineered materials for the marine environment. High strength
low weight ratio, fatigue and impact resistance and elimination of corrosion effects being considered key performance parameters.
Typical products include composite grilles, jalousies, hatches, ROV boxes, covers and enclosures reduce noise and vibration levels. 3D
structures produced as integral units, new designs or replacement products.
The use of phenolic resin systems adds further advantages for
fire safe products.

No toxic fume generation

Low flame spread
Low heat release
Low smoke emission
Low CO2 and H2O emission

Signature Management
Topside composite components and structures can be designed with electrical screening, radar transparency and radar absorption
characteristics to create multi functional solutions for modern fighting ships.
Reducing early detection by other military platforms or sea skimming missiles that can lock onto salient features of a ship radar
signature is an increasing requirement in the littoral environment.
The aim of composite solutions is to increase the operational effectiveness of the onboard decoy systems by reducing the overall radar
cross section of the vessels superstructure to manageable and compliant levels.
Onboard radar systems are often positioned such that other topside structures give rise to ghost images,
reflecting self generated radar energy back into the radar antenna. Treatments can be applied to minimise
this effect.
The first weapon in the naval architects arsenal is shape, designed to scatter radar energy away from the
sensor.
For structures that cannot be modified composite RAM materials are applied as a retrofit application to
strategic areas (primarily the dihedral and trihedral reflectors). This increases the uniformity of the ships
radar signature and will reduce the lock-on range giving the ship increased time to deploy its defensive aids.

defence marine

Surface ships
Sonar domes, High performance sonar domes, Acoustic stealth treatments, Hull fairings, RAM composites and gun turrets,
MCM composites, Towed bodies
Structural RAM is used to produce a complex 3D shape or component which is a stand-alone solution for design integration into the
vessel.
Selection of materials for composite RAM materials and Structural RAM materials (SRAM) depends on specific criteria.
The electrical performance required
The operating environment
Structural requirements
Solutions vary according to the nature of the threat and the method adopted to deal with it.
Resonance, where tuned materials are produced with the electrical thickness of an elastomer at _ wavelength at the desired
operating frequency.
Impedance change, where absorbing filler is added to a low dielectric base material. The filler is added in such a way to
maintain a low impedance mis-match to air but presenting smoothly changing impedance or stepped change impedance to an
incoming signal.
Lumped-admittance (Salisbury Screen) constructions using a resistive film and fully conducting back-plane reflector.
Each of the above techniques is capable of producing RAM with absorption characteristics around 15-20dB within a typical 8-18GHz
radar operating bandwidth.
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

2.5
0

-2

-2

-4

-4

-6

-6
Reflection dB

Reflection dB

-8
-10
-12

7.5

10

12.5

15

17.5

20

-8
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-12

-14

-14

-16

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-18

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-20
Frequency GHz

Frequency GHz

Composite technology will make further product advances as warfare increasingly relies upon the use of multiple sensors.
Managing and understanding multi-spectral signatures which require camouflage, concealment and deception (CCD) schemes will open
new product opportunities to defend against future threat scenarios.
Composites have an established track record for use on Mine Hunters and Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMs) where the use of non
metallic components are paramount to reduce the magnetic signature of the vessel.

here by design

W & J Tod Limited, 8 Cropmead, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7HQ. England.

t +44 (0)1460 77666 f +44 (0)1460 78001 e headoffice@tods.co.uk

w www.tods.co.uk