Theoretical and numerical study on transient acoustic wave propagation across ice layers in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract

The study of transient acoustic wave propagation across the Arctic Ocean ice layer provides theoretical guidance for the design of trans-ice acoustic communication systems. In this study, the Arctic Ocean was modeled as an ice–water composite structure, where the ice and water are regarded as an elastic solid and liquid, respectively. An analytical transient solution for acoustic wave propagation in this structure was derived using the eigenfunction expansion method. Further, the numerical procedures were presented and used to analyze the acoustic wave propagation characteristics across the ice layer. The results show that waveforms corresponding to the radial displacements are more severely distorted than the axial displacements. The amplitudes of the radial and axial displacements decreased rapidly with increasing propagation distance. The ice thickness had a greater impact on the radial displacement than axial displacement; the thicker the ice, the greater the distortion for both radial and axial displacements.