Underwater Acoustic Simulation and Modeling using MATLAB
Mid. Rahul Gusain
Mid. Prashant Kumar
Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering
Indian Naval Academy
Payyanur, India
Abstract——underwater acoustic channel models provide
a tool for predicting the performance of communication
systems before deployment, and are thus essential for system
design. In this paper, we offer a statistical channel model
which incorporates physical laws of acoustic propagation
(frequency-dependent attenuation, bottom/surface
reflections), as well as the effects of inevitable random local
displacements. . scattering and motion-induced Doppler
shifting, and are responsible for fast variations of the
instantaneous channel response, while large-scale effects
describe the location uncertainty and changing environmental
conditions ,and affect the locally averaged received power.
We model each propagation path by a large-scale gain and
micro multipath components that cumulatively result in a
complex Gaussian distortion. Time- and frequency-
correlation properties of the path coefficients are assessed
analytically, leading to a computationally efficient model for
numerical channel simulation. Random motion of the
surface and transmitter/receiver displacements introduces
additional variation whose temporal correlation is described
by Bessel-type functions. The total energy, or the gain
contained in the channel, averaged over small scale, , is
mode log-normally distributed .The specifically,
experimental data are used to assess the distribution and the
autocorrelation functions of the large-scale transmission loss
and the short-term path gains. While the former indicates a
log-normal distribution with an exponentially decaying
autocorrelation, the latter indicates a conditional Ricean
distribution with Bessel-type autocorrelation.
Index Terms—Channel simulation, Doppler shifting,
Doppler spreading, spreading factor, statistical channel
modelling, underwater acoustic (UWA) communications.
I. INTRODUCTION
Exchange of information is the backbone of modern
maritime tactics. The deployment of an acoustically linked
underwater network of buoys with signal assimilation and
powerful processing capabilities enhances manifold the
amount of information available to the users. Such a network
is not only finding use in the military but also in areas of
Mid. Mohit Kernia
Mid. Adarsh Pandey
Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering
Indian Naval Academy
Payyanur, India
oceanographic research. There are a number of network
topologies, media access methods and protocols which have
been experimented with over the past year. In any
Underwater Local Area Network (ULAN) configuration, the
basic elements are the ‘nodes’ which communicate amongst
each other. The nature of the underwater channel places
stringent requirements on the performance of UW modems.
To say the least, modems designed to operate in the
underwater environment are far more complex than their
counterparts in the RF environment, having to achieve the
best possible combination of speed and reliability in a far
more hostile channel.
.
II. SOFTWARE
We used MATLAB for implementing our system. The
MATLAB scripts generate a data burst which is transmitted
to the hardware using a laptop by using data acquisition card
(DAQ). At the other end the receiver gets the data by using
the DAQ card. As the data is received, MATLAB scripts are
used for demodulating it. Our software consists of following:
A. AcTup
It’s a acoustic toolbox user interface and fast processor
developed by the centre for Marine Science and Technology.
The AcTUP which runs under matlab provides a consistent
menu driven user interface to some of the underwater
acoustic propagation codes found in OALIB.
III. TRANSMITTER AND RECIEVER STRUCTURE
The structures chosen for implementation are, however,
with minor variations with respect to the basic digital
communication system and we have design our modem codes
considering all the parameters and properties of the same. The
various signal processing modules of the Transmitter and
Receiver have been implemented with specific attention to the
characteristics of the UW Channel.
 IV. Characteristics of Underwater Acoustic Channels
Like communication on land, underwater communication
channel can be regarded as time varying frequency selective,
spatially uncorrelated channel with additive colored Gaussian
noise . It is characterized by frequency dependent and range
dependent absorption, which together with the multipath
phenomenon results in fading. A few characteristics of the
underwater acoustic channel is described in the next few
subsections.
3. Doppler Spread
1. Doppler Shift
A relative motion of the receiver and or the transmitter or a The Doppler spread (Bd), expresses the spectral width
moving medium can change the frequency of the sound spreading of the received signal. In shallow water the
waves propagating through reflections from the water surface are the primary reason for
the time-variance of the channel. The value of the Doppler
FD = fc* v + c/c
spread depends on the wave’s height and frequency, wind
Where c is the speed of sound in free space in the channel. speed, number of reflections from the sea surface and floor,
The apparent change in the signal’s carrier frequency and the and the nominal angle.
time domain is known as Doppler shift.

2. Multipath
In underwater acoustics the multipath effect is mainly caused 4. Attenuation
by reflections from the sea floor and surface .The number of
bounces determines the multipath spread. In addition, the
channel consists of volume reflections such as plankton and It is caused by absorption due to conversion of acoustic
fish. For a large enough range between the transmitter and energy into heat, which , increases with distance and
receiver, the transmitted signal propagates to the receiver via frequency. It is also caused by scattering and reverberation,
various paths. The delay associated with each path depends refraction and dispersion.
on its geometry. The signals, while propagating, undergo
successive reflections at the interfaces. Variations in the sound
speed within the medium also deform the paths of the sound
waves. Due to these processes, a given signal can therefore
propagate from a source to a receiver along several distinct V. Simulation
paths corresponding to different directions and durations. The The codes have been developed and then simulated in
main direct signal arrives along with a series of echoes, the MATLAB by giving all expected under water parameters
amplitudes which decrease with the number of reflections (shift, Doppler, SNR)manually on the main transmitter code
undergone. The process of signal taking many different paths and all expected losses has been neutralized by the receiver
to get to the receiver as a result of reflections is referred to as part.
multipath. At high frequencies, for short signals, the multipath
effect is observable in the time domain, with typical
sequences of multiple echoes while for low-frequency stable
signals, the contributions add together permanently; this
creates a stable interference pattern, with strong variations in
the field amplitude.

Multipath fading in underwater channel

 well as on extending the proposed models to address spatial
correlation properties of the acoustic channel on both small
and large scales.

REFERENCES
[1] R J Urick, “Principles of Underwater Sound”, New
York, McGraw Hill, 1983.
[2] Milica Stojanovic, “Recent advances in high speed
underwater acoustic communications”, IEEE journal of
oceanic engineering. Vol 21. No. 2, April 1996.
[3] Milica Stojanovic, “Underwater Acoustic
Communications”, Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering.
[4] John Proakis, “Digital Communications 4 th
Edition”, New York, McGraw Hill, 1983

Transmitted and Received signals [5] Acoustic Channel Simulator Parastoo Qarabaqi and
Milica Stojanovic Northeastern University, Boston, MA
02115
[6] “Data Acquisition Systems” by Arnold Vandoren,
Reston Publishing Company INC.
[7] “Design and Development of Underwater Acoustic
VI. APPLICATIONS
Modem for Shallow Water and Short-Range
The need for an underwater acoustic modem, including Communication” GRIN Publishing, Vinay Divakar
applications involving exploration of Oceans and marine life
to support the biodiversity, Underwater information Sept 2014
collection for ocean mapping, Disaster prevention and [8] “Statistical Characterization and Computationally
assistance by measuring seismic activity, Environmental
protection by monitoring pollution, Military applications. Efficient Modelling” of a Class of Underwater Acoustic
Communication Channels Parastoo Qarabaqi, Student
Member, IEEE, and Milica Stojanovic, Fellow, IEEE
VI. RESULT

The aim of the project was to develop a matlab code for the [9] Underwater Acoustic Modelling and Simulation
transfer of data underwater. The codes for the transmission By Paul C Etter—Reference book
and reception of data were run on the MATLAB software
installed in the window PC. In this paper, a statistical model
was developed for UWA channels that takes into account
physical aspects of acoustic propagation as well as the effects
of inevitable random channel variations The present model is
based on the assumption for the underlying processes, which
is a starting point from a statistical point of view, although
likely not the last word on this topic. Future work will also
focus on examining frequency-correlation properties of the
small-scale fading in wide band experimental systems, as