Acoustic scattering by a three-dimensional elastic object near a rough surface

The ensemble-averaged field scattered by a smooth, bounded, elastic object near a penetrable surface with small-scale random roughness is formulated. The formulation consists of combining a perturbative solution for modeling propagation through the rough surface with a transition (T-) matrix solution for scattering by the object near a planar surface. All media bounding the rough surface are assumed to be fluids. By applying the results to a spherical steel shell buried within a rough sediment bottom, it is demonstrated that the ensemble-averaged "incoherent" intensity backscattered by buried objects illuminated with shallow-grazing-angle acoustic sources can be well enhanced at high frequencies over field predictions based on scattering models where all environmental surfaces are planar. However, this intensity must compete with the incoherent intensity scattered back from the interface itself, which can defeat detection attempts. The averaged "coherent" component of the field maintains the strong evanescent spectral decay exhibited by flat interface predictions of shallow-angle measurements but with small deviations. Nevertheless, bistatic calculations of the coherent field suggest useful strategies for improving long-range detection and identification of buried objects.     

表面粗糙度对固体内部超声背散射的影响

超声背散射法可通过多晶体金属内部的空间方差信号,实现微观结构参数的无损评价,但表面粗糙度对评价模型的精度及实用性存在显著影响.基于高斯声束理论推导垂直入射粗糙界面的纵波声场,以此研究声能的Wigner分布规律;在超声的波长远大于粗糙度的前提下,构造表面粗糙度修正系数,并建立粗糙界面的单次散射响应模型,揭示粗糙度对超声波背向散射的影响规律.用304不锈钢制备轮廓均方根值为0.159μm的光滑试块和25.722μm的粗糙试块开展超声背散射实验,结果表明模型在粗糙度修正前后均可实现光滑试块的晶粒尺寸有效评价,但未经修正的传统模型对粗糙试块的晶粒尺寸评价结果与金相法结果的相对误差高达-21.35%,而本模型的评价结果与金相法结果符合得很好,相对误差仅为1.35%.可见,本模型能有效补偿粗糙度引起的超声背散射信号衰减,从而提高晶粒尺寸无损评价的精度.     

Mechanisms for subcritical penetration into a sandy bottom: experimental and modeling results

This paper presents preliminary results of a recent study whose overall objectives are to determine the mechanisms contributing significantly to subcritical acoustic penetration into ocean sediments, and to quantify the results for use in sonar performance prediction for the detection of buried objects. In situ acoustic measurements were performed on a sandy bottom whose geoacoustical and geomorphological properties were also measured. A parametric array mounted on a tower moving on a rail was used to insonify hydrophones located above and below the sediment interface. Data covering grazing angles both above and below the nominal critical angle and in the frequency range 2-15 kHz were acquired and processed. The results are compared to two models that account for scattering of sound at the rough water-sediment interface into the sediment. Although all possible mechanisms for subcritical penetration are not modeled, the levels predicted by both models are consistent with the levels observed in the experimental data. For the specific seafloor and experimental conditions examined, the analysis suggests that for frequencies below 5-7 kHz sound penetration into the sediment at subcritical insonification is dominated by the evanescent field, while scattering due to surface roughness is the dominant mechanism at higher frequencies.     

小掠射角下高斯谱粗糙海面反射损失建模

在散射能量基本为前向散射且集中在“镜面反射”方向的情况下,粗糙海面反射损失建模是声呐信号传播建模必不可少的一部分,尤其对于中远距离下浅海或者存在表面声道的水声环境,小掠射角(10°以内)下的粗糙海面反射损失建模尤为重要。首先基于高斯谱粗糙海面模型,通过高海况下的声传播试验数据处理分析了粗糙海面边界条件下的Ramsurf声传播模型的有效性,进而以Ramsurf声传播模型为基准,在小掠射角下,比较分析了Kirchhoff近似(KA)海面反射损失模型和小斜率近似(SSA)海面反射损失模型,数值计算结果表明,在小掠射角下SSA海面反射损失模型与Ramsurf计算结果较为吻合,是比较精确的海面反射损失模型。      

Remote sensing of sediment characteristics by optimized echo-envelope matching

A sediment geoacoustic parameter estimation technique is described which compares bottom returns, measured by a calibrated monostatic sonar oriented within 15 degrees of vertical and having a 10 degree-21 degree beamwidth, with an echo envelope model based on high-frequency (10-100 kHz) incoherent backscatter theory and sediment properties such as: mean grain size, strength, and exponent of the power law characterizing the interface roughness energy density spectrum, and volume scattering coefficient. An average echo envelope matching procedure iterates on the reflection coefficient to match the peak echo amplitude and separate coarse from fine-grain sediments, followed by a global optimization using a combination of simulated annealing and downhill simplex searches over mean grain size, interface roughness spectral strength, and sediment volume scattering coefficient. Error analyses using Monte Carlo simulations validate this optimization procedure. Moderate frequencies (33 kHz) and orientations normal with the interface are best suited for this application. Distinction between sands and fine-grain sediments is demonstrated based on acoustic estimation of mean grain size alone. The creation of feature vectors from estimates of mean grain size and interface roughness spectral strength shows promise for intraclass separation of silt and clay. The correlation between estimated parameters is consistent with what is observed in situ.     

双基地冰-水界面混响强度的理论预报

针对北极冰层冰水界面具有小尺度粗糙界面的情况,给出由冰层造成的混响平均强度的理论预报公式。首先将北极冰层等效为具有粗糙界面的弹性介质,并且采用小粗糙度微扰理论在精细拟合粗糙度谱的基础上,建立粗糙冰层的三维散射强度模型,然后建立三维双基地声呐几何模型确定有效散射区域,最后给出双基地冰下混响平均强度的估算公式,并在所拟合的粗糙度谱的情况下,利用该预报公式计算双基地声呐配置参数和海冰物理及声学特性对冰下混响强度的影响算例。数值仿真表明该公式能够估算出北极冰下双基地声呐产生的混响平均强度,并且分析出了时延、基线长度等声呐配置参数和冰层声速比、密度比等海冰物理参数会对混响强度造成的影响。声呐的配置参数主要影响散射的有效面积,海冰的物理参数则影响着冰层的散射强度。其中,冰层声速比不仅影响混响强度的大小,还会影响混响强度随时间的衰减速度。      

随机起伏冰面三维声散射的Kirchhoff近似数值计算模型

针对随机起伏冰面的声散射问题,建立了随机起伏冰面三维声散射的Kirchhoff近似数值计算模型.利用Delaunay三角剖分方法对随机起伏冰面进行三角面元剖分,然后采用Z-buffer算法进行面元的遮挡消隐,得到处于声波照射亮区的面元,最后采用Gordon面元积分的板块元方法计算得到随机起伏冰面的散射强度.数值计算模型...     

浅海海底界面混响平均强度特性仿真

海底粗糙界面是产生混响的主要因素之一。本文通过理论分析和数值仿真的方法,根据浅海全波动混响模型对不同海底粗糙界面所引起浅海混响平均强度特性进行研究,主要考虑Goff-Jordan谱、Gauss谱和指数谱三种不同粗糙界面条件下的海底反向散射强度和混响平均强度特性。计算结果表明:海底粗糙界面会引起海底反向散射强度的频率特性的差异,进而导致海底平均混响强度的频率特性的差异,但随入射角度的变化不大。即使界面起伏的方差和相关长度相同,不同的粗糙度谱也会引起平均混响强度的差异。     

Signal loss of double transmissions of ultrasonic waves through random rough surfaces

This paper establishes a model evaluating the signal loss of double transmitted acoustic beams through random rough liquid-solid surfaces based on Fresnel approximation and the phase-screen approximation. The numerical solution is replaced with a simple analytical solution through using the exponential substitution approach to remove the nonlinear integral terms. Therefore, the real-time inspection by using C-scan imaging systems of flaws in materials can be achieved through the proposed model. The research results show that the signal loss of double transmissions from random rough surfaces mainly depends on two factors: the root-mean-square (RMS) of the roughness and the depth of the flaw in materials. The experimentally measured signal loss is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The evaluation of the signal loss can be useful for improving the accuracy and reliability of the non-destructive testing (NDT).     

Finite element modeling of reverberation and transmission loss in shallow water waveguides with rough boundaries

A finite element model for the reverberation and propagation in a shallow water waveguide with a sandy bottom was calculated for five different environments at a center frequency of 250 Hz. The various environments included a rough water/sediment interface, a rough air/water interface, roughness at both interfaces and downward and upward refracting sound speed profiles with roughness at both interfaces. When compared to other models of reverberation such as ray theory, coupled modes, and parabolic equations, finite elements predicted higher levels of reverberation. At early times, this is due to the "fathometer" return, energy that is normally incident on the boundaries at zero range. At later times, the increased reverberation was due to high angle scattering paths between the two interfaces. Differences in reverberation levels among the environments indicated that scattered energy from the air/water interface is transmitted into the bottom at steep angles. This led to a large decrease in reverberation for a rough air/water interface relative to a rough water/sediment interface. Sound speed profile effects on reverberation were minimal at this frequency range. Calculations of the scintillation index of the different environments indicated that most of the reverberation was relatively Rayleigh-like with heavier tailed distributions at longer ranges.     

Field measurements of sonic boom penetration into the ocean

Six sonic booms, generated by F-4 aircraft under steady flight at a range of altitudes (610-6100 m) and Mach numbers (1.07-1.26), were measured just above the air/sea interface, and at five depths in the water column. The measurements were made with a vertical hydrophone array suspended from a small spar buoy at the sea surface, and telemetered to a nearby research vessel. The sonic boom pressure amplitude decays exponentially with depth, and the signal fades into the ambient noise field by 30-50 m, depending on the strength of the boom at the sea surface. Low-frequency components of the boom waveform penetrate significantly deeper than high frequencies. Frequencies greater than 20 Hz are difficult to observe at depths greater than about 10 m. Underwater sonic boom pressure measurements exhibit excellent agreement with predictions from analytical theory, despite the assumption of a flat air/sea interface. Significant scattering of the sonic boom signal by the rough ocean surface is not detected. Real ocean conditions appear to exert a negligible effect on the penetration of sonic booms into the ocean unless steady vehicle speeds exceed Mach 3, when the boom incidence angle is sufficient to cause scattering on realistic open ocean surfaces.     

Research on the acoustic scattering function and coherence properties from rough seafloor based on finite element model

Acoustic scattering from a rough sea bottom is recognized as a main source of reverberation. In this study, scattering properties from a layered bottom were exploited based on the finite element model. The scattering strength and loss from the layered rough seabed were investigated by ensembling the realizations of rough interface. They were found to be dependent on the thickness of sediment, and interference was significant in the case of thin sediment. Through verification of the finite element model, the scattering loss could be evaluated using the Eckart model with a proper sound speed in the thick sediment. The multiple scattering effect on the sound field was also exploited. It revealed that the effect depended strongly on the bottom type.     

Modeling of subcritical penetration into sediments due to interface roughness

Recent experimental results reveal acoustic penetration into sandy sediments at grazing angles below the critical angle. A mechanism for this subcritical penetration is described based on scattering at a rough water-sediment interface. Using perturbation theory, a numerically tractable three-dimensional model is used for simulating experiments. The rough interface scattering has been treated using formally averaged methods as well as with single rough surface realizations. Data-model comparisons show that scattering by interface roughness is a viable hypothesis for the observed subcritical penetration.     

海面冰层对声波的反射和散射特性

北极海面冰层复杂多变,其对声波的反射和散射严重影响冰下水声信道的传输特性,建立海面冰层的声波反射和散射模型对冰下水声通信研究具有重要意义.假设海面冰层为多层固体弹性介质且冰-水界面粗糙,满足微扰边界条件,导出声波从海水介质入射到海面冰层时相干反射系数满足的线性方程组.对相干反射系数随声波频率、掠射角、冰层厚度的变化进行数值分析.进一步引入根据散射声场功率谱密度计算散射系数的方法,改变掠射角,对冰层厚度、散射掠角对散射系数的影响进行研究.     

Sound attenuation on an ocean shelf at short ranges from a source in the presence of surface waves

The effect of surface roughness on the attenuation of low-frequency acoustic waves on a shallow ocean shelf is analyzed using numerical simulation. We focus here on transmission loss during propagation at short (less than 50 water layer depths) ranges from the sound source. The effect is considered both for a soft and hard bottom, when the sound velocity in the bottom is, respectively, lower or higher than the sound velocity in seawater. It is shown that to correctly predict losses at a short range in the presence of a rough upper boundary, it is necessary to take into account the interaction of both propagation and leaky modes. In the case of a hard bottom compared to a low-velocity one, the effect of surface roughness on propagation turned out to be the most pronounced.     

Acoustic transmission across a roughened fluid-fluid interface

A set of tank experiments was performed to investigate acoustic transmission across a roughened fluid-fluid interface with the intention to test heuristic Bragg scattering predictions used to explain observations of anomalous transmission in field experiments. In the tank experiments, two immiscible fluids (vegetable oil floating on glycerin) formed the layers. Small polystyrene beads were floated at the interface to simulate roughness. An array of hydrophones placed in the bottom layer (glycerin) was used to measure the acoustic levels transmitted across the interface. This array was also employed as a beamformer to determine the apparent angle and sound speed of the scattered signals. Data were acquired at subcritical grazing angles in the frequency range of 100-200 kHz for three different bead diameters and for various configurations in which the locations of the beads floating on the interface were varied. Results of these measurements demonstrated that a significant amount of acoustic energy can be scattered into the bottom layer by beads floating at the interface. The scattered levels increased with increasing bead diameter. However, discrepancies occurred between observed propagation properties and the Bragg predictions. By comparing the processed tank data to a computer simulation of the same it was determined that these discrepancies are a consequence of near-field reception of the scattering by the bead array and ignoring the directionality of the scattering by the beads. Consequences to observations made in field experiments are discussed.     

Numerical, analytical, and experimental studies of scattering from very rough surfaces and backscattering enhancement

This paper Presents numerical simulations, theoretical analysis, and millimeter wave experiments for scattering from one-dimensional very rough surfaces. First, numerical simulations are used to investigate the effects of roughness spectrum, height variation, interface medium, polarization, and incident angle on the backscattering enhancement. The enhanced backscattering due to rough surface scattering is divided into two cases; the RMS height close to a wavelength and RMS slope close to unity, and RMS height much smaller than a wavelength with surface wave contributions. Results also show that the enhancement is sensitive to the roughness spectrum. Next, a theory based on the first- and second-order Kirchhoff approximation modified with angular and propagation shadowing is developed. The theoretical solutions provide a physical explanation of backscattering enhancement and agree well with the numerical results. In addition to the scattering of a monochromatic wave, the analytical results of the broadening and lateral spreading of a pulsed beam wave scattering from rough surfaces are also discussed. Finally, the existence of backscattering enhancement from one-dimensional very rough conducting surfaces with exact Gaussian statistics and Gaussian roughness spectrum is verified by a millimeter-wave experiment. Experimental results which show enhanced backscattering for both TE and TM polarizations for different angles of incidence are presented.     

The contribution of bubbles to high-frequency sea surface backscatter: a 24-h time series of field measurements

Measurements of acoustic sea surface backscattering, wind speed, and surface wave spectra were made continually over a 24-h period in an experiment conducted in 26 m of water near the Dry Tortugus collection of islands off south Florida in February 1995. The backscattering measurements were made at a frequency of 30 kHz and a sea surface grazing angle of 20 degrees; a time series of the decibel equivalent of this variable, called SS20, was studied in terms of its dependence on environmental variables. On occasion reliable estimates of scattering in the grazing range 15 degrees-27 degrees were also obtained during the 24 hours. The scattering data exhibited evidence, in terms of scattering level and grazing angle dependence, of scattering from near-surface bubbles rather than scattering from the rough air-sea interface. The scattering data were compared with a model for sigma(b), the apparent backscattering cross section per unit area due to bubble scattering, that is driven by a parameter, beta1, equal to the depth-integrated extinction cross section per unit volume. Using an empirical model for beta1 based on data from a 1977 experiment conducted in pelagic waters, model predictions agreed reasonably well with the 1995 measurements presented here. Additional model-data comparisons were made using four measurements from a 1992 experiment conducted in pelagic waters. Finally, the 24-h time series of acoustic scattering exhibited a hysteresis effect, wherein for a given wind speed, there was a tendency for the scattering level to be higher if prior winds had been falling. A better understanding of this effect is essential to reduce uncertainty in model predictions.     

Elastic model for simulating ultrasonic inspection of smooth and rough defects

A model is presented for the scattering of ultrasonic waves from smooth and randomly rough defects. The model uses Kirchhoff theory and is elastic, such that mode-conversion between compressional and shear waves is included in the formulation. The model is designed to simulate ultrasonic non-destructive testing situations, by specifying the location and orientation of a defect within an isotropic material, together with transmitter and receiver locations on an inspection surface. Results are presented for the scattering of both monochromatic waves and of pulses. It is shown how small levels of roughness can affect echodynamic curves and how diffracted signals may become lost due to scatter from the rough faces of defects. It is also shown that the usual rules for coupling between waves of all three modes no longer hold when roughness is present. In particular, roughness leads to coupling between horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves and the other two wave modes. The model predictions are also compared with an earlier acoustic model, indicating the importance of mode-conversion effects when considering rough defects embedded within solids.