Simulation of backscattering of high frequency sound from complex objects and sand sea-bottom

This paper describes the simulation of backscattering of high frequency sound from complex objects and sand sea-bottom. Backscattering data from complex objects and seabottom were generated using a Universal High Resolution Imaging Sonar Simulation Toolkit (UHRISST) developed by the authors. Our approach here involves the approximation of objects and the sea-bottom through a series of facets that are small compared to the wavelength. The Target Strength of standard objects like the sphere, cylinder, and cone predicted by our model have been compared with various high frequency approximation formulations and produced a good fit. For the prediction of the backscattering strength from the sea-bottom, we have taken into account most of the small-scale features that represent the sand grain properties, intermediate features that represent seabottom roughness and large features that block propagation. Sea-bottom backscattering predictions made using this model were compared with high frequency scattering strength values measured off Panama City, FL, USA, and produced a moderate fit. Nonparametric statistical analysis was carried out on the bottom backscattering signals from a flat isotropic sea-bottom. The probability distribution function and probability of false alarm function of the bottom backscattering data was measured and found to largely follow the normal distribution