Abstract: This paper plans to research the dynamics of a dual array towed system at and after breaking sonar array conditions, and a mathematical model and the numerical solving method are developed, which are used to intensively analyze the system’s dynamic and kinematic responses at different conditions. In this paper, the cable is modeled by the lumped mass method, and the underwater towed body, as an essential part, is described by the 6-degree-of-freedom maneuverability equation of submarines, while coupling conditions between them are given to form the whole system’s governing equations set, which is solved by 4th order Runge-Kutta method in time domain. The numerical implement of breaking array is also given. Some numerical simulations are carried out to analyze the system’s responses at different maneuvering conditions, which include instantaneous response and after response of breaking array, some meaningful conclusions are drawn. The numerical result shows that the system may move above the water surface at high speed with long array breaking, and impact and entanglement may occur when a array breaks during loop maneuvers.

Key words: towed cable; numerical simulation; towed system; breaking response