Simulation of Bottom-Interacting Ocean Acoustics: Transition into New Applications

The ability to accurately and efficiently model the sound field in the water column when there exists significant acoustic interaction with the seafloor is critical in a variety of ocean-acoustic applications. Simulation methods with detailed fundamental treatments of the effect of acoustic energy on an elastic solid are often insufficiently robust when the environment is complicated or when long ranges are desired. The goal of this research is the creation of stable and computationally inexpensive acoustic modeling methods that can accommodate range dependence in both the water column and the bathymetry, accurately portray bottom reflection even when it is substantially impacted by support for elastic shear conversion, and still reliably develop predictions at ranges as long as the basin scale.