Application of the Method of Geometric Beam Tracing for High Frequency Reverberation Modelling

A high frequency reverberation model, utilising two different beam tracing algorithms, has been developed at SACLANTCEN to be integrated as one of the acoustic sub-models in a sonar performance prediction tool. The propagation part of the model is based on beam tracing techniques as originally used by Michael B. Porter and Homer P. Bucker and includes a ray centred approach (Gaussian beam tracing) as well as a more ray-theoretic method (Geometric beam tracing), both of which have been modified to satisfy the specific reverberation requirements. In this paper, the focus is concentrated on the latter technique, particularly with regard to the applicability to reverberation modelling.