Phase Transition in Acoustic Localization in a Soft Medium Permeated with Air Bubbles

Propagation of an acoustic wave in a soft medium permeated with air bubbles is theoretically investigated by using a self-consistent approach. The soft medium is assumed to be viscoelastic to estimate the effect of acoustic absorption on the acoustic localization in such a medium. The oscillation phases of bubbles are examined by employing a phase diagram method. A collective oscillation of the bubbles is observed once the acoustic localization occurs, which is known as a phenomenon of ＇phase transition ＇, and such a phenomenon persists as we manually increase the viscosity factor of the soft medium. Therefore it is proven that the phenomenon of phase transition may serve as a unique criterion to effectively identify acoustic localization in a bubbly soft medium even in the presence of viscosity, and the directions of the phase vectors help to determine the extent of localization. This is of practical significance for experimental research studying the acoustic localization in such a medium, for which the presence of viscosity generally causes great ambiguity in distinguishing the effects of localization and acoustic absorption.     

Propagation of acoustic wave in viscoelastic medium permeated with air bubbles

Based on the modification of the radial pulsation equation of an individual bubble, an effective medium method （EMM） is presented for studying propagation of linear and nonlinear longitudinal acoustic waves in viscoelastic medium permeated with air bubbles. A classical theory developed previously by Gaunaurd （Gaunaurd GC and UEberall H, J. Acoust, Soc, Am., 1978; 63： 1699-1711） is employed to verify the EMM under linear approximation by comparing the dynamic （i.e. frequency-dependent） effective parameters, and an excellent agreement is obtained. The propagation of longitudinal waves is hereby studied in detail, The results illustrate that the nonlinear pulsation of bubbles serves as the source of second harmonic wave and the sound energy has the tendency to be transferred to second harmonic wave, Therefore the sound attenuation and acoustic nonlinearity of the viscoelastic matrix are remarkably enhanced due to the system＇s resonance induced by the existence of bubbles.     

Acoustic performance prediction of Helmholtz resonator with conical neck

There is no accurate analytical approach for the acoustic performance prediction of Helmholtz resonator with conical neck,which has broad band acoustic attenuation performance in the low frequency range.To predict the acoustic performance of the resonator accurately,a general theory model based on the one-dimensional analysis approach with acoustic length corrections is developed.The segmentation method is used to calculate the acoustic parameters for sound propagation in conical tubes.And then,an approximate formula is deduced to give accurate correction lengths for conical tubes with difierent geometries.The deviations of the resonance frequency between the transmission loss results obtained by the general theory with acoustic lengths correction and the results from the finite element method and experiments are less than 2 Hz,which is much better than the results from one-dimensional approach without corrections.The results show that the method of acoustic length correction for the conical neck greatly improved the accuracy of the one-dimensional analysis approach,and it will be quick and accurate to predict the sound attenuation property of Helmholtz resonator with conical neck.     

Symmetric and Anti-Symmetric Lamb Waves in a Two-Dimensional Phononic Crystal Plate

It is weft known that Lamb waves in a plate with a mirror plane can be separated into two uncoupled sets： symmetric and anti-symmetric modes. Based on this property, we present a revised plane wave expansion method （PWE） to calculate the band structure of a phononie crystal （PC） plate with a mirror plane. The developed PWE method can be used to calculate the band structure of symmetric and anti-symmetric modes separately, by which the depending relationship between the partial acoustic band gap （PABG）, which belongs to the symmetric and anti-symmetric modes alternatively, and the position of the scatterers can be determined. As an example of its application, the band structure of the Lamb modes in a two-dimensional PC plate with two layers of void circular inclusions is investigated. The results show that the band structure for the symmetric and anti-symmetric modes can be changed by the position of the scatterers drastically, and larger PABGs will be opened when the scatterers are inserted into the area of the plate, where the elastic potential energy is concentrated.     

Localization in an Acoustic Cavitation Cloud

Using a nonlinear sound wave equation for a bubbly liquid in conjunction with an equation for bubble pulsation,we theoretically predict and experimentally demonstrate the appearance of a gap in the frequency spectrum of a sound wave propagating in a cavitation cloud comprising bubbles.For bubbles with an ambient radius of 100 μm,the calculations reveal that this gap corresponds to the phenomenon of sound wave localization.For bubbles with an ambient radius of 120 μm,this spectral gap is related to a forbidden band of the sound wave.In the experiment,we observe the predicted gap in the frequency spectrum in soda water.However,in tap water,no spectral gap is present because the bubbles are much smaller than 100 μm.     

Analytical model of an acoustic diode comprising a superlattice and a nonlinear medium

We give an analytical analysis to the acoustic propagation in an acoustic diode (AD) model formed by coupling a superlattice (SL) with a nonlinear medium. Analytical solutions of the acoustic transmission are obtained by studying the propagations in the SL and the nonlinear medium separately with the conventional transfer-matrix method and a perturbation technique. Compared with the previous numerical method, the proposed approach contributes a better physical insight into the intrinsic mechanism of acoustic rectification and helps us to predict the performance of an AD within the effective rectifying bands in a simple way. This is potentially significant for the practical design and fabrication of AD devices.     

Localisation and phase transition of acoustic waves in a soft medium containing air bubbles

We study via numerical experiments the localisation property of an acoustic wave in a viscoelastic soft medium containing randomly-distributed air bubbles. The behaviours of the oscillation phases of bubbles are particularly investigated in various cases for distinguishing efficiently the acoustic localisation from the effects of acoustic absorption caused by the viscosity of medium. The numerical results reveal the phenomenon of ’phase transition’ characterized by an unusual collective oscillation of bubbles, which is an effective criterion to unambiguously identify the acoustic localisation in the presence of viscosity. Within the localisation region, the phenomenon of phase transition persists, and a remarkable decrease in the fluctuation of the oscillation phases of bubbles is observed. The localisation phenomenon will be impaired by the enhancement of the viscosity factors, and the extent to which the acoustic wave is localised may be determined by appropriately analyzing the values of the oscillation phases or the amount of reduction of the phase fluctuation. The results are particularly significant for the practical experiments in an attempt to observe the acoustic localisation in such a medium, which is in general subjected to the interference of the great ambiguity resulting from the effect of acoustic absorption.     

Geoacoustic Inversion Based on a Vector Hydrophone Array

We propose a geoacoustic inversion scheme employing a vector hydrophone array based on the fact that vector hydrophone can provide more acoustic field information than traditional pressure hydrophones. Firstly, the transmission loss of particle velocities is discussed. Secondly, the sediment sound speed is acquired by a matchedfield processing （MFP） procedure, which is the optimization in combination of the pressure field and vertical particle velocity field. Finally, the bottom attenuation is estimated from the transmission loss difference between the vertical particle velocity and the pressure. The inversion method based on the vector hydrophone array mainly has two advantages： One is that the MFP method based on vector field can decrease the uncertain estimation of the sediment sound speed. The other is that the objective function based on the transmission loss difference has good sensitivity to the sediment attenuation and the inverted sediment attenuation is independent of source level. The validity of the inverted parameters is examined by comparison of the numerical results with the experimental data.     

An analysis of seismic attenuation in random porous media

The attenuation of seismic wave in rocks has been one of the interesting research topics, but till now no poroelasticity models can thoroughly explain the strong attenuation of wave in rocks. In this paper, a random porous medium model is designed to study the law of wave propagation in complex rocks based on the theory of Biot poroelasticity and the general theory of stochastic process. This model sets the density of grain, porosity, permeability and modulus of frame as random parameters in space, and only one fluid infiltrates in rocks for the sake of better simulation effect in line with real rocks in earth strata. Numerical simulations are implemented. Two different inverse quality factors of fast P-wave are obtained by different methods to assess attenuation through records of virtual detectors in wave field (One is amplitude decay method in time domain and the other is spectral ratio method in frequency domain). Comparing the attenuation results of random porous medium with those of homogeneous porous medium, we conclude that the attenuation of seismic wave of homogeneous porous medium is far weaker than that of random porous medium. In random porous media, the higher heterogeneous level is, the stronger the attenuation becomes, and when heterogeneity σ = 0.15 in simulation, the attenuation result is consistent with that by actual observation. Since the central frequency (50 Hz) of source in numerical simulation is in earthquake band, the numerical results prove that heterogeneous porous structure is one of the important factors causing strong attenuation in real stratum at intermediate and low frequency.     

Optimization of the Monopole Acoustic Transducer for Logging-while-Drilling

A new design idea for a monopole acoustic transducer which increases the frequency band and improves electromechanical performance is proposed with a focus on the lowest order of the radial and flexural modes. Numerical modeling of the resonance frequencies and electrical conductance are conducted with respect to the dimensions and material parameters of the proposed transducer. The transmitting voltage response level with respect to the density and velocity of the fluid media is calculated. The numerical simulation is validated through experiments. The frequency band and the electromechanical performance of the monopole acoustic transducer can be optimized by the g~ven methods concluded from the numerical results.     

声波在含气泡液体中的线性传播

为了探讨含气泡液体对声波传播的影响, 研究了声波在含气泡液体中的线性传播. 在建立含气泡液体的声学模型时引入气泡含量的影响,建立气泡模型时引用 Keller的气泡振动模型并同时考虑气泡间的声相互作用,得到了经过修正的气泡振动方程. 通过对含气泡液体的声传播方程和气泡振动方程联立并线性化求解,在满足 (ω R₀)/c << 1 的前提下,得到了描述含气泡液体对声波传播的衰减系数和传播速度. 通过数值分析发现,在驱动声场频率一定的情况下,气泡含量的增加及气泡的变小均会导致衰减系数增加和声速减小;气泡的体积分数和大小一定时, 驱动声场频率在远小于气泡谐振频率的情况下,声速会随驱动频率的增加而减小; 气泡间的声相互作用对声波传播速度及含气泡液体衰减系数的影响不明显.最终认为气泡的大小、 数量和驱动声场频率是影响声波在含气泡液体中线性传播的主要因素. 关键词： 含气泡液体 线性声波 声衰减系数 声速     

Nonlinear ultrasonic waves in bubbly liquids with nonhomogeneous bubble distribution: Numerical experiments

This paper deals with the nonlinear propagation of ultrasonic waves in mixtures of air bubbles in water, but for which the bubble distribution is nonhomogeneous. The problem is modelled by means of a set of differential equations which describes the coupling of the acoustic field and bubbles vibration, and solved in the time domain via the use and adaptation of the SNOW-BL code. The attenuation and nonlinear effects are assumed to be due to the bubbles exclusively. The nonhomogeneity of the bubble distribution is introduced by the presence of bubble layers (or clouds) which can act as acoustic screens, and alters the behaviour of the ultrasonic waves. The effect of the spatial distribution of bubbles on the nonlinearity of the acoustic field is analyzed. Depending on the bubble density, dimension, shape, and position of the layers, its effects on the acoustic field change. Effects such as shielding and resonance of the bubbly layers are especially studied. The numerical experiments are carried out in two configurations: linear and nonlinear, i.e. for low and high excitation pressure amplitude, respectively, and the features of the phenomenon are compared. The parameters of the medium are chosen such as to reproduce air bubbly water involved in the stable cavitation process.     

含少量气泡流体饱和孔隙介质中的弹性波

考虑孔隙流体中含有少量气泡,且气泡在声波作用下线性振动,研究声波在这种孔隙介质中的传播特性.本文先由流体质量守恒方程和孔隙度微分与流体压力微分的关系推导出了含有气泡形式的渗流连续性方程;在处理渗流连续性方程中的气体体积分数时间导数时,应用Commander气泡线性振动理论导出气体体积分数时间导数与流体压强时间导数的关系,进而得到了修正的Biot形式的渗流连续性方程;最后结合Biot动力学方程求得了含气泡形式的位移场方程,便可得到两类纵波及一类横波的声学特性.通过对快、慢纵波的频散、衰减及两类波引起的流体位移与固体位移关系的考察,发现少量气泡的存在对快纵波和慢纵波的传播特性影响较大.     

Ultrasonic wave propagation in heterogeneous solid media: theoretical analysis and experimental validation

This research deals with the ultrasonic characterization of thermal damage in concrete. This damage leads to the appearance of microcracks which then evolve in terms of volume rate and size in the material. The scattering of ultrasonic waves from the inclusions is present in this type of medium. The propagation of the longitudinal wave in the heterogeneous media is studied via a homogenization model that integrates the multiple scattering of waves. The model allows us to determine the phase velocity and the attenuation according to the elements which make the medium. Simulations adapted to the concrete are developed in order to test the responses of the model. These behaviors are validated by an experimental study: the measurements of phase velocity and attenuation are performed in immersion, with a comparison method, on a frequency domain which ranges from 160 kHz to 1.3 MHz. The analysis of different theoretical and experimental results obtained on cement-based media leads to the model validation, on the phase velocity behavior, in the case of a damage simulated by expanded polystyrene spheres in granular media. The application to the case of a thermally damaged concrete shows a good qualitative agreement for the changes in velocity and attenuation.     

利用声衰减反演气泡群分布的方法研究

通过测量含气泡水的声衰减反演气泡群参数是获取水中气泡分布的重要方法,但是经典方法忽略了较高浓度气泡水中的强频散特性和气泡振动参数的改变,导致反演较高浓度气泡群分布时会产生巨大误差.为解决这个问题,本文基于等效媒质理论建立起了声衰减和相速度的联系,并考虑了含气泡水平均量对气泡阻尼系数和共振频率的影响.在此基础上,通过将反演气泡分布和修正相速度及气泡振动参数交替迭代的方法,有效地消除了高浓度气泡水中由频散和气泡振动特性改变引起的误差.与实验数据对比发现,气泡群孔隙率达到10^-5时,考虑含气泡水的频散特性会显著降低反演误差;而当气泡群孔隙率达到10^-3时,气泡阻尼系数和共振频率的修正会对反演结果变得重要.本文方法在反演孔隙率为10^-3-10^-2的高浓度气泡群时,仍有较好效果,这可为获取水下较高浓度气泡群分布提供方法借鉴.     

A simple model of ultrasound propagation in a cavitating liquid. Part I: Theory, nonlinear attenuation and traveling wave generation

The bubbles involved in sonochemistry and other applications of cavitation oscillate inertially. A correct estimation of the wave attenuation in such bubbly media requires a realistic estimation of the power dissipated by the oscillation of each bubble, by thermal diffusion in the gas and viscous friction in the liquid. Both quantities and calculated numerically for a single inertial bubble driven at 20 kHz, and are found to be several orders of magnitude larger than the linear prediction. Viscous dissipation is found to be the predominant cause of energy loss for bubbles small enough. Then, the classical nonlinear Caflish equations describing the propagation of acoustic waves in a bubbly liquid are recast and simplified conveniently. The main harmonic part of the sound field is found to fulfill a nonlinear Helmholtz equation, where the imaginary part of the squared wave number is directly correlated with the energy lost by a single bubble. For low acoustic driving, linear theory is recovered, but for larger drivings, namely above the Blake threshold, the attenuation coefficient is found to be more than 3 orders of magnitude larger then the linear prediction. A huge attenuation of the wave is thus expected in regions where inertial bubbles are present, which is confirmed by numerical simulations of the nonlinear Helmholtz equation in a 1D standing wave configuration. The expected strong attenuation is not only observed but furthermore, the examination of the phase between the pressure field and its gradient clearly demonstrates that a traveling wave appears in the medium.     

Numerical simulations of three-dimensional nonlinear acoustic waves in bubbly liquids

This paper presents three-dimensional simulations of nonlinear propagation of ultrasonic waves through bubbly liquids, which represent the continuity of our previous works included in the numerical tool SNOW-BL. The behavior of three-dimensional nonlinear acoustic waves in bubbly liquids is analyzed by means of numerical predictions. Nonlinearity, attenuation, and dispersion due to the presence of bubbles in the liquid are taken into account. The numerical solution to the differential problem is obtained by means of a finite-difference scheme. The simulations we present here consider a homogeneous distribution of bubbles in the liquid. Results compare high and low-amplitude waves to detect the nonlinear effects of the bubbles. Results are shown for radiation and enclosure problems.     

丛聚的含气泡水对线性声传播的影响

含气泡水内气泡的空间分布会对线性声传播产生影响,导致实验结论与理论预测存在较大偏差.为解决这一问题,将准晶体近似引入到自洽方法中,导出了考虑空间分布时多分散含气泡水的等效声波波数.考虑到含气泡水内,气泡间存在小范围的聚集趋势(简称丛聚现象),在此基础上引入Neyman-Scott点过程描述了含气泡水内气泡的丛聚现象.分析发现,丛聚时,声速、声衰减的峰值将受到抑制,并向低频偏移,且抑制和频偏现象会随丛聚加剧而变强;随频率远离峰值段,丛聚对声传播的影响逐渐减弱.此外,考虑到空间分布的统计信息提取对相关研究的精确与否起到重要作用,引入了一种比例无偏估计,通过该方法获得了仿真环境下丛聚含气泡水模型的相速度及衰减系数,该建模及统计方法也可为相关实验工作提供理论基础.