Underwater acoustics--Mathematical models

The measurement of the Scattering function of time-variant fading channels is of strong interest in the field of underwater acoustic communications, as it indicates the limitations of the channel capacity. It also helps reducing the development time of acoustic communication systems and the need for on-site tests using so-called "fading simulators". The Scattering function is interpreted as the expected power received at a given time-delay and frequency shift for a given signal transmitted through the acoustic channel. It has been estimated using a fourth-moment method developed by Kailath from 18 to 30 kHz, 8-ms broad-band chirps and 20--28 kHz, 28-ms pseudo noise sequences. These signals were transmitted periodically in the shallow coastal waters of South Florida from a static source, and recorded from a 64-channel receiver array located at a distance of 1000 meters. Spatial beamforming has been applied to study the spatial sensitivity of the scattering function.

A novel acoustic wave propagation model has been developed to determine the effects of the ocean variations on the acoustic propagation field, and to determine the signal measured by a receiver at any distance from an omnidirectional source. The model accounts for environmental conditions. First, a stationary estimate of the complex sound attenuation is computed as a function of frequency and location, using the parabolic equation numerical technique. For a given range, the vertical profile of the attenuation frequency spectrum is decomposed in the wave number domain. A specific Doppler shift is associated with each wave number. The space-frequency attenuation filter obtained is applied to the transmitted signal to create time-frequency selective fading. This model has been used to simulate the performance of the General Purpose Acoustic Modem, which transmits MFSK modulated sequences between 15.6 kHz to 32.1 kHz. The range of operation varies from 1 to 5 km, in 15 meters of water. Experimental data have been collected under sea-state 2 conditions. The model has been successfully validated when compared to experimental data and to the Crepeau model.

An integrated coastal ocean and acoustic propagation model has been implemented to determine the effects of the ocean variations on the acoustic propagation field applied specifically to SFOMC. The ocean dynamics were modeled using the sigma coordinate, orthogonal curvilinear grid, Princeton Ocean Model. By using forcing conditions of tide, river runoff, wind and realistic bottom topography, the resulting time variant regional sound velocity outputs from the model were used as inputs to the range dependent, parabolic equation, acoustic propagation model, RAM. The results show that the fluctuations in the ocean result in scintillation in the acoustic propagation field, and for higher frequencies this variability is uniformly distributed and at times as much as +/-3 dB. High resolution in the POM grid and the range and depth sizes for RAM were important for obtaining reliable simulation results.