Three efficient numerical models to analyse the step problem in shallow water

Abstract

In this paper, the problem of acoustic wave propagation in a waveguide of infinite extent is modelled, taking into account constant depth in each section of the sea. Efficient numerical strategies in the frequency domain are addressed to investigate two-dimensional acoustic wave propagation in a shallow water configuration, considering a step in the rigid bottom and a flat free surface. The time domain responses are obtained by means of an inverse Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of results computed in the frequency domain. The numerical approaches used here are based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS). In the numerical models only the inclined or vertical interface between the sub-regions of different depth are discretized, as Green׳s functions that take into account the presence of free and rigid surfaces are used. These Green׳s functions are obtained either by eigenfunction expansion or by Ewald׳s method. A detailed discussion on the performance of these formulations is carried out, with the aim of finding an efficient numerical formulation to solve the step problem in shallow water.