Uniform linear array is a kind of very important underwater acoustic detection equipment, it mainly divided into two kinds: rigid array and flexible array. Rigid array is the best means to obtain ideal detection result, but the layout and recovery is difficult. Flexible array is used more popular for its easy to operation, but the array shape is difficult to maintain. Shape distortion of the flexible linear array will impact the DOA estimation performance tremendously. Based on theoretical analysis, simulation studies and experimental data processing, this paper proposed an elements position correction method. The correction method of array distortion based on the equation of distance between two points in Euclidean 3D space. As shown in the figure, in order to estimate the actual spatial location of each element of the tow line array, two calibration sources were mounted on the ship rigidly, the absolute geographic coordinates is set to know based GPS. Then we can write 2N distance equations which between the two calibration sources and the array hydrophones: (xi − x01)2 + (yi − y01)2 + (zi − z01)2 = R2i1 (i = 1,2,···, N)(xi − x02)2 + (yi − y02)2 + (zi − z02)2 = R2i2 (i = 1,2,···, N) where (x01, y01, z01)and(x02, y02, z02) are the coordinates of calibration sources, (xi, yi, zi) are the coordinates of hydrophones, Ri1, Ri2 are the estimated distance between the calibration sources and the hydrophones. There are total 3N variable for N hydrophones' space coordinates, where it is assumed that each hydrophone depths can be read from the depth sensor, then the variable remain are 2N. We can get the 2N variable through solve the above 2N range equations, then the array shape can be calibrated. The signal propagation delay variation caused by sensor position turbulence are analyzed, the delay variation will direct impact on the steering vector which used in beamforming processor. The acoustic calibration method is given, which using two calibration sound sources mounted under the carrier transmit default acoustic signal, the hydrophones of the flexible linear array then receive these acoustic signals and gathered by the process center, the process center make an estimate of the actual coordinates of the sensors use the data, and fix the steering vector, complete the sensor position calibration. The simulation frequency is 750Hz, the sound speed of water is 1500m/s, the true target direction is 37 degrees, eight elements receiving array, array element spacing is one meter (half wavelength). For the sake of comparison, we execute the simulation with the same receive data use three array shapes: supposed shape, real shape and estimated shape respectively. The simulation based conventional beamforming(CBF) and adaptive beamforming (ABF) algorithm. The simulation results and field data processing proved that, after a certain accuracy of shape distortion correction, when processing with CBF and ABF processor, both the DOA estimation accuracy and 3dB mainlobe width can be significantly improved. Through the compare research on CBF and ABF beamforming algorithm with array shape distortion or not, we can see the CBF is more robust for array shape distortion. Though above analysis is limited that elements should in the same plane coordinate, but the result is still general, can be extended to three-dimensional space.