Modeling and simulation of SWARA path loss model for underwater acoustic communication in multipath environment

Abstract

The propagation loss varies with underwater channel conditions which might considered to be random phenomena. Modeling propagation loss will become meaningful iff mathematical model includes parameters namely viz projector's transmit voltage response (TVR), hydrophone's open circuit receiving response (OCRR), directivity patterns of both, channel parameters such as salinity, temperature, pressure, enclosure boundary conditions along with placements of Tx & Rx nodes & their operating frequency. To best of our knowledge, existing simulators are unable to trace eigen rays for very short range i.e. less than 0.1 km and therefore they are not suitable for computation of such short-range propagation losses. We have made an attempt to overcome limitations of existing simulators wherein we proposed mathematical model SWARA which includes parameters as mentioned above to study very short-range propagation losses using plane wave theory. To validate simulated propagation loss, we conducted tank trials at UWAA Lab, CARE, IIT Delhi to investigate effects of placements of projector & hydrophone on occurrence of transmission loss. The Simulated results of SWARA mathematical model shows that simulated maximum transmission loss is -0.18 to 0.10 times experimental maximum transmission loss, whereas simulated minimum transmission loss is -0.36 to 0.19 times experimental minimum transmission loss for placements of projector (ITC 1042) and hydrophone (Keltron 8240000001) at depths varying from 0.3m-1.2m & range varying from 2m-3.2m in uw tank facility of 3.85m long 2.4 wide 2m deep for 30kHz chirp signal (10kHz bandwidth) under static channel conditions.