Theory and Numerical Modeling of Low-Frequency Acoustic Scattering from Bubble Plumes Near the Sea Surface

Abstract

From a theoretical foundation in boundary integral equations, we develop and implement a general method for computing the complex acoustic scattering amplitudes of bubble plumes near the sea surface. The implementation, named BIRPS (Boundary Integral Resonant Plume Scatter) incorporates surface- image and resonance effects, and allows user-specified plume shapes, interior sound speed functions, and depths. Simulations with model intermediate plumes reveal multiple sub-kHz resonant features. The resonance spectrum depends mainly on the plume's size, shape, and mean sound speed. The Q of a resonance depends on these parameters and on the sound speed gradient. Resonant scattering responses have a nonquadratic depth dependence and an elevation dependence whose complexity and frequency sensitivity increase with frequency. BIRPS may be joined with a continuous wave (CW) propagation model to provide scattering simulations or with a multifrequency driver to generate reverberation predictions. our results provide a theoretical/modeling component for the investigation of surface reverberation and are relevant to problems of resonant scattering from complex bodies in general.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 18, 1992
Accession Number
ADA259199

Entities

People

  • D. Wurmser
  • R. F. Gragg

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Scattering
  • Acoustics
  • Boundaries
  • Diffraction
  • Equations
  • Forward Scattering
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Integral Equations
  • Refractive Index
  • Resonance
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Scattering
  • Simplex Method
  • Simulations
  • Two Dimensional
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Coastal Oceanography