The Effects of Seafloor Roughness on Acoustic Scattering: Manipulative Experiments
Abstract
Deliberate manipulations of the seafloor during SAX04 (Sediment Acoustics Experiment-2004) in the form of quasi-periodic ripples features were carried out to examine the effects of interface roughness on high-frequency acoustic scattering. Manipulative experiments were conducted in the field of view of a bottom-mounted acoustic tower (40 kHz) and in the field of view of acoustic transducers (30-90 kHz) attached to a mobile rail system. The center wavelength of ripple-like features varied between 2 and 3 cm and the strike of the ripples was oriented parallel, perpendicular and at 30 deg to the axis of propagation of the incident acoustic waves. Backscattering strength was greatest when the ripple spacing was close to one-half the acoustic wavelength and the strike of the ripples was perpendicular to the incident acoustic propagation path. Preliminary analysis suggests agreement between measured and modeled backscatter strength.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA456576
Entities
People
- D. R. Jackson
- D. Tang
- E. I. Thorsos
- Kevin B. Briggs
- Kevin L. Williams
- M. D. Richardson
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory