Implementation and validation of a three-dimensional semi-coherent energy flux model for underwater acoustic propagation

Abstract

The energy flux method uses a continuum of adiabatic Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin modes to integrate intensity directly as a function of propagation angle. Work published a decade ago extended the energy flux method to include semi-coherent interference between neighboring modes to capture convergence zones. This study seeks to generalize the energy flux method to three-dimensional inhomogeneous underwater environments by converting a cross-product of double mode-sums to a double integration over solid angle. Theoretical derivations for a proof of concept model were presented previously, and current work has been focused on the numerical implementation of the model. Model validation will be discussed with comparisons to analytical solutions and other three-dimensional underwater acoustic propagation models.