Multifrequency radiation force of acoustic waves in fluids

In this article we introduce the concept of multifrequency radiation force produced by a polychromatic acoustic beam propagating in a fluid. This force is a generalization of dynamic radiation force due to a bichromatic wave. We analyse the force exerted on a rigid sphere by a plane wave with N frequency components. Our approach is based on solving the related scattering problem, taking into account the nonlinearity of the fluid. The radiation force is calculated by integrating the excess of pressure in the quasilinear approximation over the surface of the sphere. Results reveal that the spectrum of the multifrequency radiation force is composed of up to N(N−1)/2 distinct frequency components. In addition, the radiation force generated by plane progressive waves is predominantly caused by parametric amplification. This is a phenomenon due to the nonlinear nature of wave propagation in fluids.     

Experimental implementation of a low-frequency global sound equalization method based on free field propagation

An experimental implementation of a global sound equalization method in a rectangular room using active control is described in this paper. The main purpose of the work has been to provide experimental evidence that sound can be equalized in a continuous three-dimensional region, the listening zone, which occupies a considerable part of the complete volume of the room. The equalization method, based on the simulation of a progressive plane wave, was implemented in a room with inner dimensions of 2.70 m × 2.74 m × 2.40 m. With this method, the sound was reproduced by a matrix of 4 × 5 loudspeakers in one of the walls. After traveling through the room, the sound wave was absorbed on the opposite wall, which had a similar arrangement of loudspeakers, by means of active control. A set of 40 digital FIR filters was used to modify the original input signal before it was fed to the loudspeakers, one filter for each transducer. The optimal arrangement of the loudspeakers and the maximum frequency that can be equalized is analyzed theoretically in this paper. The presented experimental results show that sound equalization was possible from 10 Hz to approximately 425 Hz in the listening zone. A flat frequency response with deviations within ±5 decibels from the desired value was achieved. A higher demanding performance with deviations within ±1.5 decibels from a flat frequency response was attained in the interval between 20 Hz and 280 Hz. At the same time, the impulse response was quite well approximated to a delayed delta function in the listening zone. Examples of the spatial distribution of the sound field are also shown.     

On an initial‐boundary value problem for a wide‐angle parabolic equation in a waveguide with a variable bottom

We consider the third‐order Claerbout‐type wide‐angle parabolic equation (PE) of underwater acoustics in a cylindrically symmetric medium consisting of water over a soft bottom B of range‐dependent topography. There is strong indication that the initial‐boundary value problem for this equation with just a homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition posed on B may not be well‐posed, for example when B is downsloping. We impose, in addition to the above, another homogeneous, second‐order boundary condition, derived by assuming that the standard (narrow‐angle) PE holds on B, and establish a priori H² estimates for the solution of the resulting initial‐boundary value problem for any bottom topography. After a change of the depth variable that makes B horizontal, we discretize the transformed problem by a second‐order accurate finite difference scheme and show, in the case of upsloping and downsloping wedge‐type domains, that the new model gives stable and accurate results. We also present an alternative set of boundary conditions that make the problem exactly energy conserving; one of these conditions may be viewed as a generalization of the Abrahamsson–Kreiss boundary condition in the wide‐angle case. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust supergain beamforming for circular array via second-order cone programming

The phenomenon of supergain for a circular array and its robust beamforming are presented. The coplanar superdirective array gain of the circular array, although it is not so extreme as an endfire line array, outperforms a lot over that of a conventional delay-and-sum beamformer in isotropic noise fields when the inter-element spacings are much smaller than one-half wavelength. However, optimum beamforming algorithms can be extremely sensitive to slight errors in array characteristics. The performance are known to degrade significantly if some of underlying assumptions on the sensor array is violated. Therefore, white noise gain constraint is used to improve the robustness of the supergain beamformer against random errors. We show that the design of the weight vector of robust supergain beamformer can be reformulated as a form of second-order cone programming and resolved efficiently via the well-established interior point method. Results of computer simulation for a 24-element circular array confirm satisfactory performance of the approach proposed in this paper.     

Applications of ultrasound to enhance fluidized bed drying of Ascophyllum Nodosum: Drying kinetics and product quality assessment

In this study, ultrasound either as a pretreatment technique or as an integrated technique was employed to enhance fluidized bed drying of Ascophyllum nodosum, and drying kinetics and dried product quality were assessed. In order to compare technology efficiency and dried product qualities, oven drying and fluidized bed drying (FBD) were employed. The novel drying methods included airborne ultrasound-assisted fluidized bed drying (AUA), ultrasound pre-treatment followed by FBD (USP), and hot water blanching pre-treatment followed byFBD (HWB). Six drying kinetics models were used to describe the drying curves, among which the Page model was the best in fitting USP and AUA. Model by Millidi et al. was employed to describe HWB. Airborne ultrasound in AUA did not reduce energy consumption or drying time, but retained total phenolic content (TPC) as well as colour, and exhibited the highest yield among the novel drying methods. USP and HWB showed lower energy consumption and drying time considerably, but the TPC was the lowest among the studied methods. At the same time, USP dried product exhibited the lowest a_w, followed by HWB and then AUA. This studyalso demonstrated that FBD could be a very practical drying method on Irish brown seaweed, and ultrasound-assisted drying methods may have potential developments in Irish brown seaweed drying process.     

Acoustics of a Bubbly Liquid with a Weak Chemical Reaction in the Gaseous Phase

The influence of the composition and thermophysical properties of gas-liquid bubbly systems with a dissociating component in the gaseous phase on the laws of small-disturbance propagation and attenuation is investigated. It is found that the reacting gas component in the bubbles significantly affects the sonic-wave attenuation coefficient in the bubbly liquid. This follows from the fact that when a gas bubble is compressed isothermally, a recombination reaction occurs which prevents pressure growth in the bubble.Small-disturbance propagation in bubbly liquids was investigated in a number of publications discussed in review [1]. The acoustics of a bubbly liquid with a gas phase containing active admixtures are of both methodical and practical interest. The dynamics of such multicomponent bubbles were investigated in [2].     

Interaction between Low and High-Frequency Modes in a Nonlinear System: Gas-Filled Cylinder Covered by a Movable Piston

A simple mechanical system containing a low-frequency vibration mode andset of high-frequency acoustic modes is considered. The frequencyresponse is calculated. Nonlinear behaviour and interaction betweenmodes is described by system of functional equations. Two types ofnonlinearities are taken into account. The first one is caused by thefinite displacement of a movable boundary, and the second one is thevolume nonlinearity of gas. New mathematical models based on nonlinearequations are suggested. Some examples of nonlinear phenomena arediscussed on the base of derived solutions.     

Space averaging of vibration level differences measured in lightweight building structures

This paper examines space averaging methods applied to structural level differences measured in lightweight building structures (two beam junction and single plate and beam junction). The methods studied include the averaging assuming a constant input force, the averaging based on a constant vibration level across the source element, and the arithmetic averaging of level differences. Tests indicate that a fairly steady input force can be easily produced when using an impulsive source such as a hammer; the constant input force method is then appropriate and can be used to space average level differences (the two beam structure showing a standard deviation of 0.1 dB from the averaging based on levels normalised to the force). On the other hand, acceleration levels can exhibit significant variations with position due to the low mode count and modal overlap of some lightweight elements such as timber beams. Variations in the vibration level across the source element can then be responsible for large inaccuracies in the level difference calculated from the constant level assumption, the two beams’ results showing errors greater than 5 dB at several 1/3 octave band frequencies. The latter averaging method is then inappropriate and should not be used.     

Dual energy time reversed elastic wave propagation and nonlinear signal processing for localisation and depth-profiling of near-surface defects: a simulation study

Nonlinear Elastic Wave Spectroscopy (NEWS) relies on the activation of defects by wave energy that propagates through the medium. In general, the response of activated defects will not scale linearly with the excitation amplitude, and the resulting nonlinear signatures can be identified and used for quality inspection. The efficiency of NEWS based inspection methods is therefore intrinsically linked to the locally deposited activation energy at the defect zone and the ability to generate nonlinear signatures that exceed the noise level of acquisition. Time Reversal techniques allow focusing of high levels of energy in small areas, and are consequently very useful for the local activation of defected zones. In this report, numerical simulations are reported showing the potential of a combination consisting of dual energy reciprocal Time Reversal and nonlinearity filtering using the Scaling Subtraction Method. The method is applied to the detection of planar near-surface defects parallel to the surface in a 2D domain. The results are evaluated for sweep excitation at different frequency ranges; for point-like receiver as well as extended transducers, and for in-plane as well as out-of-plane focusing. The observable nonlinear response at the surface is linked to an effective nonlinearity within the medium based on the defect geometry and the distribution of the local stresses.     

Estimating the mixing time of concert halls using the eXtensible Fourier Transform

In room acoustics, we measure room impulse responses (RIRs) in order to fully describe the hall. RIRs are composed of a succession of arrivals (i.e., some sound rays which have undergone one or more reflections on their way from the source to the receiver). We propose the eXtensible Fourier Transform (XFT) in order to investigate the time evolution of spectral components of RIRs. The phase evolution versus time allows to estimate the mixing time, which is defined as the time it takes for initially adjacent sound rays to spread uniformly across the room. After presenting some properties of the XFT, we show why one must compensate the natural energy decay of the RIR in order to obtain stationary signals. We estimate mixing times for a set of experimental RIRs and several that are synthesized using a stochastic model. Then, we estimate the dependance of mixing time upon the source/receiver distance in all these RIRs. Results are consistent up to the lack of reproducibility of the sound sources, but are strongly dependent on some parameters used for computing the XFT. We finally discuss the relevance of the name mixing time with respect to the theory and in regard to the time we estimate, that we propose to call cross-over time.