Improving the Performance of Mode-Based Sound Propagation Models by Using Perturbation Formulae for Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions

Abstract

Numerous sound propagation models in underwater acoustics are based on the representation of a sound field in the form of a decomposition over normal modes. In the framework of such models, the calculation of the field in a range-dependent waveguide (as well as in the case of 3D problems) requires the computation of normal modes for every point within the area of interest (that is, for each pair of horizontal coordinates x,y). This procedure is often responsible for the lion’s share of total computational cost of the field simulation. In this study, we present formulae for perturbation of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of normal modes under the water depth variations in a shallow-water waveguide. These formulae can reduce the total number of mode computation instances required for a field calculation by a factor of 5–10. We also discuss how these formulae can be used in a combination with a wide-angle mode parabolic equation. The accuracy of such combined model is validated in a series of numerical examples.

Keywords

• underwater acoustics
• normal modes
• perturbation theory
• rough bottom
• mode parabolic equations