Defence R&D; Canada – Atlantic

Contact information and a complete list of DRDC Atlantic facilities can be found on the Defence R&D; Canada – Atlantic Web Site.

Quest

DRDC Atlantic's research ship, the 2200 ton CFAV Quest was specially designed for open ocean acoustic research. Extreme measures were taken to reduce the transfer of sound from its machinery to the sea, preserving the low-noise environment essential for making sensitive acoustic measurements. Quest is designed for operation in light ice conditions and has been used for experiments in Arctic waters in the summer. Well set-up laboratories, excellent accommodation (crew of 24 plus 21 scientific personnel), good deck space, winches, cranes and other handling equipment combine to make it one of the more effective vessels for acoustic research in service today.

Acoustics Barge

DRDC Atlantic operates an underwater acoustic calibration facility on a barge moored in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia. The main work area, including the 9 m by 18 m rectangular well, is covered by a deckhouse to permit all-weather operation. Loads up to 5 tonnes can be moved anywhere within the deckhouse; transducers can by mounted and rotated at depths from 2 to 40 m. Using a variety of standard transducers, computer-controlled acoustic calibrations can be performed from 10 Hz to 200 kHz.

Acoustic Tank

The Acoustic Tank Facility is primarily used for calibration of hydrophones and other underwater acoustic transducers, whose size and frequency range are comparable with the tank's dimensions. The freshwater tank is circular in cross section, 7.3 metres in diameter and 4.5 metres deep.

High Pressure Vessel

DRDC Atlantic operates a pressure vessel which can be used to simulate ocean depths of up to 5975 meters of water, a pressure of 58,600 kPa. The tank is a single forged billet of HY80 steel, and will accept a test specimen up to 91 cm diameter by 224 cm long. There are electrical feedthroughs in both the cover and the bottom of the tank so that test specimens may be monitored or powered as required for the test and calibration purposes, while pressurized.