Acoustic

Acoustic calibration & tank testing

Acoustic Calibration Tank

Comprehensive water-tank acoustic calibration, characterisation and testing services for commercial enterprises, technology centres, universities, research bodies and the defence sector.

Get in touch →

Service overview

Underwater acoustic testing in a controlled environment

Our facilities are specifically engineered to conduct controlled, highly repeatable trials under reproducible conditions, with strict adherence to measurement reliability, quality assurance and rigorous data traceability. The acoustic tank is fully conditioned to perform underwater measurements with excellent repeatability and standard-compliant traceability.

Fully controlled environment

The tank is acoustically lined with closed-cell elastomeric foam to minimise reflections and ensure measurement repeatability across every test campaign.

Reference instrumentation

HBK measurement chain: Type 8103 Miniature Hydrophone (sensitivity > −200 dB, 0.1 Hz – 180 kHz) and LAN-XI Type 3161 data acquisition module with dedicated analysis software.

Flexible service models

Full-service, facility rental or hybrid framework — we choose together the model that best fits your project resources, schedule and objectives.

Core capabilities

What we can test

Hydrophone calibration

Sensitivity calibration and frequency-response verification for reference and field hydrophones.

Transducer characterisation

Full acoustic profiling of piezoceramic and electromagnetic transducers: directivity, frequency response and power parameters.

Acoustic emission & reception testing

Quantitative measurement of acoustic emission and reception performance under controlled underwater conditions.

Product & prototype validation

Validation of commercial products, prototypes and R&D systems — from early iterations through to final qualification.

Technical infrastructure

Facility specifications

Tank dimensions

4 m × 2 m × 2 m

Capacity

Approx. 16 m³ (~16,000 litres of water)

Structure

Structural steel S275-JR, reinforced perimetrically with structural tubing and a folded upper profile for high geometric rigidity

Acoustic lining

Internal cladding with a 2 cm closed-cell elastomeric foam attenuation layer to optimise the boundary environment

Reference hydrophone

HBK Type 8103 Miniature Hydrophone — sensitivity > −200 dB, range 0.1 Hz – 180 kHz

Data acquisition

HBK LAN-XI Type 3161 module with dedicated analysis software

Transducer compatibility

Piezoceramic and electromagnetic elements

Logistics

5-tonne integrated overhead gantry crane for precise deployment and immersion of heavy components

Service delivery models

How we work with you

Full-Service Package

Our engineering team manages test planning, experimental setup, data acquisition, validation and technical reporting from start to finish.

Facility Rental

Access to the tank and support infrastructure for clients wishing to execute their own campaigns using their personnel and equipment.

Hybrid Framework

Tailored collaboration combining client assets with our technical capabilities to support bespoke R&D projects.

Applications & sectors

Where it fits

Suited to manufacturers of underwater acoustic instrumentation, research laboratories, defence agencies and any organisation requiring rigorous characterisation, calibration or validation of acoustic devices in a controlled water environment.

Oceanography Bioacoustics Ultrasonics Cavitation Environmental noise Maritime defence Marine renewables Naval engineering Universities & R&D

Repeatability, traceability & reliability

Tests are carried out under reproducible conditions with a certified reference measurement chain, ensuring standard-compliant traceability and data consistency across campaigns. The facility is engineered to sustain mechanical stability and long-term measurement integrity.