Math1 Comput. Modelling, Vol. 11, pp. 6749, 1988 0895-7177/88 $3.00 + 0.

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Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Press plc

PERFORMANCE MODELING FOR HYDROPHONE ARRAYS

Ronald R. Lambert and Steven F. Magruder

Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins

Road, Laurel, Maryland 20707 USA

Abstract. A capability to model the performance of volumetric hydrophone ar-

rays in different acoustic environments has been developed. A normal mode model
that uses a WKB approximation is used to calculate acoustic propagation. Am-
bient noise is not included in the model. The model uses an algorithm that can
efficiently calculate signal gain for a large-scale array for a large number of source
positions. Performance measures derived from the signal gain calculations have
been used to compare the multipath losses for different array geometries in a
convergence zone environment.

Keywords. Array gain; acoustic modeling; towed array sonar.

SIGNAL GAIN ACOUSTIC PROPAGATION

We have used a signal-only model to estimate charac- Acoustic propagation from the source to the hydro-
teristics of large-scale hydrophone arrays. Because of phones is computed using a normal mode model devel-
the absence of an acoustic noise model, the directional oped by Henrick et al. (1983). This model uses uniform
response of the array is measured in terms of the array WKB asymptotic approximations to the vertical modes
signal gain, which we define as in the normal mode representation of the solution to
the reduced wave equation. A detailed look at the use
of a WKB approximation in a normal mode model
is found in Boyles (1984). The model accommodates
frequencies of 50 Hz or greater in an azimuthally in-
dependent, vertically stratified flat-bottomed ocean.
Using the solution obtained from the WKB model for
specified source and receiver depths, we can estimate
the acoustic pressure at an arbitrary horizontal distance
where
r from the source by evaluating the expression
N = the number of array elements (hydrophones),
All = the steering coefficients for the nth element,
and
P, = the acoustic pressure at the nth element. P(r) = & c ~m(4)4m(Z,)
S m
STEERING COEFFICIENTS e,(ka,r d4je -ur/2a,

Laka,r_l
The property of directionality is highly desirable in a
hydrophone array in order to detect an incoming signal
and to determine the direction of arrival. To maximize where
its response to signals from a particular direction, an Z* = source depth,
array can be electronically steered by introducing phase Z.? = receiver depth,
delays in the outputs of individual elements (see Urick, PV,) = medium density at source depth,
1983). For the purposes of this model, the steering co- = mode number,
efficient for an array element is defined as ?m(Z,) = mode amplitude at source depth,
&(Z,) = mode amplitude at receiver
depth,
k = 27rf/c, = reference wave number for source
frequency (j) and surface sound
where speed
k = 2x$/c, the wave number for frequency (f) (co)
and sound speed (c), eigenvalue for mode m,
r, = the position vector of element n relative to attenuation constant, and
the center of the array, and horizontal distance between
u ZZ the unit vector in the steering direction. source and receiver.

67
68 Proc. 6th Int. Cortf. on Mathematical Modelling

COMPUTATIONAL PROBLEMS SAMPLING AND INTERPOLATION

In order to compute the array signal gain, it is neces- As shown graphically in Fig. lb, the functions P, (r)
sary to calculate the acoustic pressure at each hydro- and P, (r) oscillate over much larger ranges than do
phone. If the signal gain is to be computed for a large P, (r) and P, (r) and therefore are better suited for
number of source positions, the amount of computa- sampling and interpolation. For the purposes of our
tion quickly becomes unwieldy. For example, to com- work, signal gain calculations using the interpolation
pute signal gain for a lOOO-element array at 1000 dif- scheme agreed very well with earlier results, and a sub-
ferent source positions at a source frequency that re- stantial speed improvement was observed (over two
quires 1000 modes to be evaluated, the product inside orders of magnitude for a lOOO-element array). Some
the summation sign in the expression for P(r) as given empirical observations on the effect of varying the
above would be repeated 10’ times. We could take sampling density and interpolation method are given
advantage of symmetry in the array geometry to realize in Table 1. We chose a sampling interval of about 10
some savings, but in the general case the range between acoustic wavelengths and used a second-order inter-
any given hydrophone and the source is unique. polation method for our work.

We could save substantial computation, however, if we TABLE 1. Effects of sampling interval and interpo-
did not have to repeat the modal sum to obtain each lation method on relative error.
pressure value. If we attempt to tabulate real and im-
aginary components of the pressure function (PR(r) Sampling Order of Relative Error
and PJ (r) ) and interpolate, we find that we need to Interval Interpolation
sample these functions at a large number of ranges. (A) Minimum Maximum
This is because the array geometries of interest have
the hydrophones spaced approximately % X apart (h
2.5 2nd (quadratic) 0.0000188 0.000102
= wavelength at design frequency), and the pressure
2.5 1st (linear) 0.000312 0.000964
functions P, (r) and Pr (r) will oscillate at ranges
5.0 2nd O.ooO153 0.000817
close to X for signals near the design frequency. This
5.0 1st 0.00123 0.00387
is shown graphically in Fig. la.
10.0 2nd 0.00132 0.00622
10.0 1st 0.00741 0.0154
PRESSURE APPROXIMATION
COMPUTER MODEL
The approach taken was to sa_mple values at wider
range intervals of the function P (r), which we define
In the computer model used for these calculations, sig-
as nal gain for a passive acoustic array can be calculated
as a function of the source range, azimuth, or depth.
P(r) = em”‘P(r) , The source is moved incrementally in range, depth, or
azimuth, and, at each position, signal gain and power
where are calculated for a number of different steering angles.
The outputs from the gain calculations are then further
processed to yield plots or performance measures that
(n = the number of modes used).
are used to analyze the array characteristics.

The model allows an arbitrary array geometry of up to

After interpolating between sampled points to obtain
1000 hydrophones, subject to a limitation of not more
an approximate value of I?(r), the desired pressure val-
than 100 different depths. The acoustic environment
ue is then
is described by a profile of sound speed, medium den-
sity, and attenuation values at discrete depths that is
P(r) = e’l”P(r) .
specified by the user. An array shading scheme or hy-
drophone position errors may optionally be modeled.
The gain calculations may be repeated for up to 25
different steering angles at each source position.
(a) P(r) (b)p”(r)

Iop$$_
The pressure interpolation scheme works well for sig-
nal gain calculations as a function of source range or
azimuth, provided the hydrophone spacing or range in-
crements do not differ too radically from the acoustic
wavelength. When the source depth varies, however,
the modal amplitudes change and must be recalculated
at each increment, which greatly increases the run time.

r r+h r+2X r r + 25x r+ 50h

PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Range Range
In studying the performance of high gain arrays, it has
FIG. 1. Fragments of pressure functions. become evident that signal gain is a complicated func-
 Proc. 6th ht. Cmf: on Ualhematical Modding 69

60

20-

101 I I I -101 I I I I I I
1.17 1.22 1.27 1.32 1.37 0 60 120 180 240 300 360
Range x 105 (Ill) Azimuth (deg)

FIG. 2. Signal gain vs. range. FIG. 3. Beam pattern.

tion of range and steering angle. To reduce this func-
tion to a small set of numbers that indicate array per-
formance, two measures have been devised. The first
performance measure is the percentage of range sam-
ples where the calculated signal gain exceeds a given
threshold. The second performance measure is the per-
centage of range samples where the normalized signal
power, averaged over some range interval, exceeds a
given threshold.
SAMPLE RESULTS
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate sample results of modeling
a lOOO-hydrophone circular array in a convergence
zone environment. The range plot was obtained by in-
crementally moving the sound source across the con-
vergence zone at a fixed azimuth. The azimuthal plot
was obtained by steering the array at 45” and in-
crementally moving the source around the array at a
fixed range in the center of a convergence zone.
REFERENCES
Boyles, C. A. (1984). Acoustic Waveguides Applica-
tions to Oceanic Science. Wiley Interscience.
Henrick, R. F., Brannan, J. R., Warner, D. B., For-
ney, G. P. (1983). The uniform WKB model ap-
proach to pulsed and broadband propagation. J.
Acoust. Sot. Am. 14, 1464-1473.
Urick, R. J. (1983). Principles of Underwater Sound,
3rd ed. McGraw-Hill.