Minimization of a ship's magnetic signature under external field conditions using a multi-dipole model

Abstract

The paper addresses the innovative issue of minimizing the ship's magnetic signature under any external field conditions, i.e., for arbitrary values of ambient field modulus and magnetic inclination. Varying values of the external field, depending on the current geographical location, affect only the induced part of ship's magnetization. A practical problem in minimizing the ship signature is separating permanent magnetization from induced magnetization. When the ship position changes, a signature measurement has to be made under new magnetic field conditions to update the currents in the coils. This is impractical or even difficult to do (due to the need for a measuring ground), so there is a need to predict the ship's magnetization value in arbitrary geographical location conditions based on the reference signature determined on the measuring ground. In particular, the model predicting the signatures at a new geographical location must be able to separate the two types of magnetization, as permanent magnetization is independent of external conditions. In this paper, a FEM model of the vessel is first embedded in an external field and permanent magnetization is simulated using DC coils placed inside the model. Then, using the previously developed rules for data acquisition and determination of model parameters, a multi-dipole model is synthesized in which the induced and permanent parts are separated. The multi-dipole model thus developed has been successfully confronted with the initial model in FEM environment. The separation of permanent and induced magnetization allows the latter to be scaled according to new values of the external field. In the paper, the situation of determining a signature at one geographical position and its projection onto two other positions is analyzed. Having determined the signature with a high degree of accuracy anywhere in the world, it is possible to perform classical signature minimization by determining DC currents in coils placed inside the ship's hull. The paper also analyzes the effectiveness of ship's signature minimization and the influence of ship's course on the signature value. The advantage of the method presented in this paper is an integrated approach to the issue of scaling and minimization of ship magnetic signature, which has not been presented in the literature on such a scale before.