RECONSTRUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL VELOCITY FIELDS AND OTHER PARAMETERS BY ACOUSTIC RAY TRACING.

A method for reconstructing acoustic related parameters from their line integral projection in highly refracting materials by ray tracing techniques is developed and collaborating data presented. The measured value of many parameters is determined by the line integral of related acoustic variables along a refracted and/or reflected ray path, e. g. , the propagation time along a ray is the line integral of a specific function of both acoustic and fluid flow velocity. Improved accuracy with fewer rays result when a priori information, e. g. , fluid dynamic equations, are incorporated in the solution method. It is shown that the actual ray paths can be obtained as a consequence of these methods and their determination augments the reconstruction of other parameters such as fluid temperature, fluid flow fields, acoustic attenuation non-linear interactions and impedance.