The measurement of quality in auditorium acoustics by subjective scaling methods—A review of developments in theory and practice

A review is given of subjective measurement methods in auditorium acoustics. Particular emphasis is laid on research in what may be termed the field of psychometric room acoustics. In the past, traditional psychophysical methods have proved useful for the more limited purpose of determining the effects of physical changes on subjective attributes, but more recent developments in psychometric theory now permit aesthetic characteristics, such as quality, to be evaluated on valid subjective measurement scales. At present there is contention concerning the best approach to adopt in applying such subjective scales to the evaluation of auditoria. Two schools of thought have emerged: one favouring preference comparisons, the other semantic differential ratings. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed in relation to recent projects. It is suggested that the advantages of these two approaches could be combined to derive a reliable subjective measure for evaluating auditoria in the field.     

基于变换声学的角反射器的设计*

基于超材料的新型声学器件是近年来的研究热点,变换声学为这些新型声学器件的实现带来了可能。该文提出了一种基于变换声学的声反射器模型的设计方法。通过简单的线性映射,该声反射器具有均匀而各向异性的参数。利用Biot流体等效介质理论,通过周期分层结构可以对该反射器进行实现。仿真结果显示,在一定角度范围内,该反射器可以将声波按照入射方向进行反射,同时也验证了该结构的宽频有效性。     

A wide angle and high Mach number parabolic equation

Various parabolic equations for advected acoustic waves have been derived based on the assumptions of small Mach number and narrow propagation angles, which are of limited validity in atmospheric acoustics. A parabolic equation solution that does not require these assumptions is derived in the weak shear limit, which is appropriate for frequencies of about 0.1 Hz and above for atmospheric acoustics. When the variables are scaled appropriately in this limit, terms involving derivatives of the sound speed, density, and wind speed are small but can have significant cumulative effects. To obtain a solution that is valid at large distances from the source, it is necessary to account for linear terms in the first derivatives of these quantities [A. D. Pierce, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 87, 2292-2299 (1990)]. This approach is used to obtain a scalar wave equation for advected waves. Since this equation contains two depth operators that do not commute with each other, it does not readily factor into outgoing and incoming solutions. An approximate factorization is obtained that is correct to first order in the commutator of the depth operators.     

Multiple scattering in a reflecting cavity: application to fish counting in a tank.

Classical fisheries acoustics techniques are useless in the presence of multiple scattering or reflecting boundaries. A general technique is developed that provides the number and the scattering strength of scatterers in motion placed inside a highly reflecting cavity. This approach is based on multiple scattering theory. The idea is to measure the average effect of the scatterers on the acoustic echoes of the cavity interfaces. This leads to the measure of the scattering mean free path, a typical length that characterizes the scattering strength of the cloud of scatterers. Numerical results are shown to agree with a simple theoretical analysis. Experiments are performed with fish in a tank at two different scales: ultrasonic frequency (400 kHz) in a 1.4-l beaker with 1-cm-long fish as well as fisheries acoustics frequency (12.8 kHz) in a 30-m3 tank with 35-cm-long fish. These results have interesting applications to fish target strength measurement and fish counting in aquaculture.     

The attenuation of lined plenum chambers in ducts: I. Theoretical models

Two types of theory are described, with the purpose of predicting the acoustic transmission loss of lined plenum chambers (which are sometimes used as attenuators in air conditioning duct systems). The first kind of theory embodies a low frequency wave acoustic approach, and two separate models are evolved: one is for a single plenum chamber, and the second is for a plenum chamber incorporating one or more acoustically lined baffles. The other type of theory is valid at high frequencies, and is based upon geometrical (or “ray”) acoustics. This is applied to a single chamber and to chambers containing either one or two lined baffles. Both the high frequency and low frequency results are reasonably simple. A limited amount of experimental data is also presented, as justification for the validity of part of the theory.     

Numerical modeling of high-power ultrasonic systems: current status and future trends

Numerical models of high power ultrasonic systems are usually based on finite element or boundary element methods. The basic physical models are linear and rely upon the theory of elasticity, the constitutive law of piezoelectricity and the theory of linear acoustics. They are only valid at low drive level. Some recent developments include nonlinearities of the transduction mechanism and of the propagation medium. In this paper, standard and advanced numerical models are discussed and illustrated by several application examples of high power ultrasonics.     

Regimes of bubble volume oscillations in a pipe

The effect of an acoustically driven bubble on the acoustics of a liquid-filled pipe is theoretically analyzed and the dimensionless groups of the problem are identified. The different regimes of bubble volume oscillations are predicted theoretically with these dimensionless groups. Three main regimes can be identified: (1) For small bubbles and weak driving, the effect of the bubble oscillations on the acoustic field can be neglected. (2) For larger bubbles and still small driving, the bubble affects the acoustic field, but due to the small driving, a linear theory is sufficient. (3) For large bubbles and large driving, the two-way coupling between the bubble and the flow dynamics requires the solution of the full nonlinear problem. The developed theory is then applied to an air bubble in a channel of an inkjet printhead. A numerical model is developed to test the predictions of the theoretical analysis. The Rayleigh-Plesset equation is extended to include the influence of the bubble volume oscillations on the acoustic field and vice versa. This modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation is coupled to a channel acoustics calculation and a Navier-Stokes solver for the flow in the nozzle. The numerical simulations indeed confirm the predictions of the theoretical analysis.     

Refracted arrival waves in a zone of silence from a finite thickness mixing layer

Refracted arrival waves which propagate in the zone of silence of a finite thickness mixing layer are analyzed using geometrical acoustics in two dimensions. Here, two simplifying assumptions are made: (i) the mean flow field is transversely sheared, and (ii) the mean velocity and temperature profiles approach the free-stream conditions exponentially. Under these assumptions, ray trajectories are analytically solved, and a formula for acoustic pressure amplitude in the far field is derived in the high-frequency limit. This formula is compared with the existing theory based on a vortex sheet corresponding to the low-frequency limit. The analysis covers the dependence on the Mach number as well as on the temperature ratio. The results show that both limits have some qualitative similarities, but the amplitude in the zone of silence at high frequencies is proportional to omega(-1/2), while that at low frequencies is proportional to omega(-3/2), omega being the angular frequency of the source.     

A mini-tutorial on measure-valued Markov processes and nonlinear martingale problems—As a reply to McCauley's comment

One goal of this mini-tutorial is to provide an introduction into the theory of measure-valued Markov processes and nonlinear martingales defined by strongly nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations and to discuss the physical relevance of the associated processes. Another goal is to reply to McCauley's comment on T.D. Frank [Physica A 331, 391 (2004)]. The tutorial addresses in detail two approaches found in physics and mathematics. The first approach exploits a mapping between linear and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations. The second approach exploits martingale theory. Several examples of Markov processes and martingales in quantum mechanical, nonextensive, and self-organizing systems defined by nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations are discussed.     

Principle of an a priori use of symmetries in the theory of nonlinear waves

The principle of an a priori use of symmetries is proposed as a new approach to solving nonlinear problems on the basis of a reasonable complication of mathematical models. Such a complication often causes an additional symmetry and, hence, opens up possibilities for finding new analytical solutions. The application of group analysis to the problems of nonlinear acoustics is outlined. The potentialities of the proposed approach are illustrated by exact solutions, which are of interest for wave theory.     

Multiphonon excitations in heavy-ion collisions: Comparison between different theoretical approaches

A critical comparison between various approaches to calculate collective excitations in heavy ion collisions is performed. The coherent surface excitation model, the adiabatic time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation, and the linear response theory are considered. The origins of the differences in the predictions of these three approaches are analyzed and discussed.     

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.     

The polarisability of atoms and molecules: a comparison between a conceptual density functional theory approach and time-dependent density functional theory

We investigate the local polarisability or polarisability density using both a conceptual density functional theory approach based on the linear response function and time-dependent density functional theory. Using a zero frequency in the latter, we can immediately compare both approaches. Using an analytical expression for the linear response kernel, we are able to systematically analyse α(r) throughout the periodic table. An extension to molecules is also made with a study of the CO molecule retrieving the connection between local softness and local polarisability.     

Modelling of nonlinear crack–wave interactions for damage detection based on ultrasound—A review

The past decades have been marked by a significant increase in research interest in nonlinearities in micro-cracked and cracked solids. As a result, a number of different nonlinear acoustic methods have been developed for damage detection. A general consensus is that – under favourable conditions – nonlinear effects exhibited by cracks are stronger than crack-induced linear phenomena. However, there is still limited understanding of physical mechanisms related to various nonlinearities. This problem remains essential for implementation of nonlinear acoustics for damage-detection applications. This paper reviews modelling approaches used for nonlinear crack–wave interactions. Various models of classical and nonclassical crack-induced elastic, thermo-elastic and dissipative nonlinearities have been discussed.     

A short history of bad acoustics

Every branch of science attracts its share of cranks and pseudoscientists, and acoustics has been no exception. A brief survey of those who touched on acoustics is given with quotations from the more interesting or egregious examples. A contrast is drawn between the nineteenth century contrarian's quarrel with particular theories and the modern new age wholesale rejection of theory. This world-view is traced back to the later scientific writings of Goethe. Examples of pseudoscience applied to biomedical acoustics, architectural acoustics, and audio reproduction are given.     

Regularization methods for near-field acoustical holography.

The reconstruction of the pressure and normal surface velocity provided by near-field acoustical holography (NAH) from pressure measurements made near a vibrating structure is a linear, ill-posed inverse problem due to the existence of strongly decaying, evanescentlike waves. Regularization provides a technique of overcoming the ill-posedness and generates a solution to the linear problem in an automated way. We present four robust methods for regularization; the standard Tikhonov procedure along with a novel improved version, Landweber iteration, and the conjugate gradient approach. Each of these approaches can be applied to all forms of interior or exterior NAH problems; planar, cylindrical, spherical, and conformal. We also study two parameter selection procedures, the Morozov discrepancy principle and the generalized cross validation, which are crucial to any regularization theory. In particular, we concentrate here on planar and cylindrical holography. These forms of NAH which rely on the discrete Fourier transform are important due to their popularity and to their tremendous computational speed. In order to use regularization theory for the separable geometry problems we reformulate the equations of planar, cylindrical, and spherical NAH into an eigenvalue problem. The resulting eigenvalues and eigenvectors couple easily to regularization theory, which can be incorporated into the NAH software with little sacrifice in computational speed. The resulting complete automation of the NAH algorithm for both separable and nonseparable geometries overcomes the last significant hurdle for NAH.     

Source excitation strategies for obtaining impulse responses in finite difference time domain room acoustics simulation

This paper considers source excitation strategies in finite difference time domain room acoustics simulations for auralization purposes. We demonstrate that FDTD simulations can be conducted to obtain impulse responses based on unit impulse excitation, this being the shortest, simplest and most efficiently implemented signal that might be applied. Single, rather than double, precision accuracy simulations might be implemented where memory use is critical but the consequence is a remarkably increased noise floor. Hard source excitation introduces a discontinuity in the simulated acoustic field resulting in a shift of resonant modes from expected values. Additive sources do not introduce such discontinuities, but instead result in a broadband offset across the frequency spectrum. Transparent sources address both of these issues and with unit impulse excitation the calculation of the compensation filters required to implement transparency is also simplified. However, both transparent and additive source excitation demonstrate solution growth problems for a bounded space. Any of these approaches might be used if the consequences are understood and compensated for, however, for room acoustics simulation the hard source is the least favorable due to the fundamental changes it imparts on the underlying geometry. These methods are further tested through the implementation of a directional sound source based on multiple omnidirectional point sources.     

A comparison of two angular dependent ESCA algorithms useful for constructing depth profiles of surfaces

Two approaches for developing composition/depth profiles were examined and compared. Model A, a technique previously presented by R.W. Paynter (1981), uses an iterative method to match calculated relative ESCA intensities with experimental data. Model B, a new approach which incorporates ideas from inverse theory, applies a linear approximation of the delta function to represent the intensity attenuation function in order to create a set of linear functions. This set is solved by matrix inversion to yield a smoothed depth profile from angular dependent ESCA data. Each model was tested with real and simulated ESCA data from radio-frequency (RF) plasma-poly-merized perfluoropropane coatings on quartz and polyurethane coatings on glass. Both models are restricted by certain assumptions, yet each offers advantages. A method combining both models is presented as the best approach for efficiently generating nondestructive depth profiles. Overlayer thicknesses obtained by using these models were found to be in reasonable agreement with results from other thickness determination methods.