PROSIM broadband normal-mode model: a user's guide

Abstract

PROSIM is a layered normal-mode model approach for adiabatic broadband range-dependent sound

propagation. The kernel of this model is based on a recently developed range-independent model

called ORCA, which includes a very efficient eigenvalue solver and frequency interpolation technique.

The implementation of range-dependency involved special handling of the range segments and the frequency interpolation to minimize hardware requirements and still keep the efficiency of the model. The computational speed of PROSIM is a function of the number of layers describing the environment in depth and the influence of the maximum frequency and bandwidth considered; nevertheless the calculation of broadband transfer functions up to 10 kHz in shallow water acoustic waveguides involving hundreds of modes and thousands of frequency components is performed in a few minutes on a state-of-the- art workstation.