A Hybrid Analytical-Numerical Model Based on the Method of Fundamental Solutions for the Analysis of Sound Scattering by Buried Shell Structures

Several numerical and analytical models have been used to study underwater acoustics problems. The most accurate and realistic models are usually based on the solution of the wave equation using a variety of methods. Here, a hybrid numerical-analytical model is proposed to address the problem of underwater sound scattering by an elastic shell structure, which is assumed to be circular and that is buried in a fluid seabed bellow a water waveguide. The interior of the shell is filled with a fluid that may have different properties from the host medium. The analysis is performed by coupling analytical solutions developed both for sound propagation in the waveguide and in the vicinity of the circular hollow pipeline. The coupling between solutions is performed using the method of fundamental solutions. This strategy allows a compact description of the propagation medium while being very accurate and highly efficient from the computational point of view.