Malcher, F; Lepper, P (2025) Characterisation of acoustic fields generated by explosives - Quarry trial of application of noise abatement technology. NPL Report. AC 27

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Abstract

This report describes the work undertaken in the project “Characterisation of acoustic fields generated by explosives - Quarry trial of application of noise abatement technology.”. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of bubble curtains used as a barrier mitigation for the acoustic output from explosive sources by conducting controlled experimental trials in a quarry facility. This work was funded by the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) through the Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme (OESEA), Sub-Contract OESEA-24-164.

A total of twenty-three explosive tests were undertaken during a six-day trial at the Limehillock Quarry test facility in order to assess how different properties of the bubble curtain effect the attenuation of the acoustic signal generated by underwater explosions. Three different test regimes were conducted to see how the attenuation provided by the bubble curtain changed: the charge size, the distance between the curtain and the charge and parameters of the bubble curtain (flow rate, number of curtain layers and or hole size).

The results showed that an increase in the charge size showed a reduced the attenuation provided. That increasing the distance between the curtain and the charge increases the attenuation provided by the curtain up to around 3x the explosive bubble radius. And lastly, that varying the parameters of the bubble curtain flow rate have an impact on the attenuation provided.

Item Type:	Report/Guide (NPL Report)
NPL Report No.:	AC 27
Keywords:	explosives, unexploded ordnance, UXO, bubble curtains, acoustic signal, underwater acoustics, hydrophone
Subjects:	Acoustics > Underwater Acoustics
Divisions:	Medical, Marine & Nuclear
Identification number/DOI:	10.47120/npl.AC27
Last Modified:	13 Feb 2026 13:44
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/10275