Polarization tensors of planar domains as functions of the admittivity contrast

(Electric) polarization tensors describe part of the leading order term of asymptotic voltage perturbations caused by low volume fraction inhomogeneities of the electrical properties of a medium. They depend on the geometry of the support of the inhomogeneities and on their admittivity contrast. Corresponding asymptotic formulas are of particular interest in the design of reconstruction algorithms for determining the locations and the material properties of inhomogeneities inside a body from measurements of current flows and associated voltage potentials on the body’s surface. In this work, we consider the two-dimensional case only and provide an analytic representation of the polarization tensor in terms of spectral properties of the double layer integral operator associated with the support of simply connected conductivity inhomogeneities. Furthermore, we establish that an (infinitesimal) simply connected inhomogeneity has the shape of an ellipse, if and only if the polarization tensor is a rational function of the admittivity contrast with at most two poles whose residues satisfy a certain algebraic constraint. We also use the analytic representation to provide a proof of the so-called Hashin–Shtrikman bounds for polarization tensors; a similar approach has been taken previously by Golden and Papanicolaou and Kohn and Milton in the context of anisotropic composite materials.     

Longitudinal Shear of Layered Anisotropic Media with Band-Type Inhomogeneities

Using the method of jump functions, we solve the antiplane problem of elasticity theory for a stack of anisotropic strips containing plane band-type inhomogeneities. We model these inclusions by jumps of the stress vector and the derivative of the displacement vector at the middle surfaces. Applying the Fourier integral transformation, we obtain the dependence of the components of the stress tensor and displacement vector on the external load and unknown jump functions. Taking into account the conditions of the interaction between a thin inclusion and an anisotropic medium, we reduce the problem to a system of singular integral equations for the jump functions. A specific example is considered as well.     

Approximate models for wave propagation across thin periodic interfaces

This work deals with the scattering of acoustic waves by a thin ring that contains regularly spaced inhomogeneities. We first explicit and study the asymptotic of the solution with respect to the period and thickness of the inhomogeneities using so-called matched asymptotic expansions. We then build simplified models replacing the thin ring with Approximate Transmission Conditions that are accurate up to third order with respect to the layer width. We pay particular attention to the study of these approximate models and the quantification of their accuracy.     

Axial-radial acoustic eigenoscillations near a thin-walled obstacle in a cylindrical channel with stepped narrowings

The dependencies are investigated of eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions of acoustic axial-radial oscillations near a thin-walled obstacle in a channel with stepped narrowings on the geometric parameters of the oscillation region. It is discovered that, near the thin-walled cylindrical obstacles in an inhomogeneous cylindrical channel with the stepped two-sided cylindrical narrowing, the number of eigenfrequencies of the acoustic axial-radial oscillations of a gas may increase. The dependencies are obtained of eigenfrequencies on the geometric parameters of obstacles and the inhomogeneities of the channel.     

A Numerical Way of Determining the Boundaries of a System of Bodies in a Three-Dimensional Medium by Means of Integral Equations

The propagation of acoustic waves in a three-dimensional medium with several local inhomogeneities of different shapes is analyzed. Solving the inverse problem of determining boundaries of local inhomogeneities from measurements of a field in a bounded receivers location domain is reduced to a system of integral equations. An iteration approach to solving the inverse problem is proposed, and the results from numerical experiments are presented.     

The linear sampling method for anisotropic media

We consider the inverse scattering problem of determining the support of an anisotropic inhomogeneous medium from a knowledge of the incident and scattered time harmonic acoustic wave at fixed frequency. To this end, we extend the linear sampling method from the isotropic case to the case of anisotropic medium. In the case when the coefficients are real we also show that the set of transmission eigenvalues forms a discrete set.     

Uniform strain field inside a non-circular inhomogeneity with homogeneously imperfect interface in anisotropic anti-plane shear

We re-examine the conclusion established earlier in the literature that in the presence of a homogeneously imperfect interface, the circular inhomogeneity is the only shape of inhomogeneity which can achieve a uniform internal strain field in an isotropic or anisotropic material subjected to anti-plane shear. We show that under certain conditions, it is indeed possible to design such non-circular inhomogeneities despite the limitation of a homogeneously imperfect interface. Our method proceeds by prescribing a uniform strain field inside a non-circular inhomogeneity via perturbations of the uniform strain field inside the analogous circular inhomogeneity and then subsequently identifying the corresponding (non-circular) shape via the use of a conformal mapping whose unknown coefficients are determined from a system of nonlinear equations. We illustrate our results with several examples. We note also that, for a given size of inhomogeneity, the minimum value of the interface parameter required to guarantee the desired uniform internal strain increases as the elastic constants of the inclusion approach those of the matrix. Finally, we discuss in detail the relationship between the curvature of the interface and the displacement jump across the interface in the design of such inhomogeneities.     

Surface acoustic waves in the testing of layered media. The waves’ sensitivity to variations in the properties of the individual layers

Research on the use of surface acoustic waves for the nondestructive testing of layered media is reviewed. A model to describe horizontally polarized surface acoustic waves in layered anisotropic (monoclinic) media is constructed. A modified transfer-matrix method is developed to obtain a solution. Non-canonical type waves with horizontal transverse polarization are investigated. Dispersion curves are constructed for a multilayer composite in contact with an anisotropic half-space. It is shown that the variation of the physical characteristics and the geometry of any of the internal layers leads to a variation in the dispersion curves. This opens up the possibility of using dispersion analysis for the nondestructive testing of the properties of the individual layers.     

Non‐local approach in mathematical problems of fluid–structure interaction

Three‐dimensional mathematical problems of interaction between elastic and scalar oscillation fields are investigated. An elastic field is to be defined in a bounded inhomogeneous anisotropic body occupying the domain Ω¯₁⊂ℝ³ while a physical (acoustic) scalar field is to be defined in the exterior domain Ω¯₂=ℝ³\Ω₁ which is filled up also by an anisotropic (fluid) medium. These two fields satisfy the governing equations of steady‐state oscillations in the corresponding domains together with special kinematic and dynamic transmission conditions on the interface ∂Ω₁. The problems are studied by the so‐called non‐local approach, which is the coupling of the boundary integral equation method (in the unbounded domain) and the functional‐variational method (in the bounded domain). The uniqueness and existence theorems are proved and the regularity of solutions are established with the help of the corresponding Steklov–Poincaré type operators and on the basis of the Gårding inequality and the Lax–Milgram theorem. In particular, it is shown that the physical fluid–solid acoustic interaction problem is solvable for arbitrary values of the frequency parameter. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wave Field Decomposition in Anisotropic Fluids: A Spectral Theory Approach

An extension of directional wave field decomposition in acoustics from heterogenous isotropic media to generic heterogenous anisotropic media is established. We make a connection between the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map for a level plane, the solution to an algebraic Riccati operator equation, and a projector defined via a Dunford–Taylor type integral over the resolvent of a nonnormal, noncompact matrix operator with continuous spectrum.In the course of the analysis, the spectrum of the Laplace transformed acoustic system's matrix is analyzed and shown to separate into two nontrivial parts. The existence of a projector is established and using a generalized eigenvector procedure, we find the solution to the associated algebraic Riccati operator equation. The solution generates the decomposition of the wave field and is expressed in terms of the elements of a Dunford–Taylor type integral over the resolvent.     

Modelling of growth inhomogeneities in timber structures for realistic computations

This contribution discusses the numerical analysis of timber structures by means of the Finite Elements Method. As a naturally grown and fibrous material, wood shows distinctive material directions, which are captured by a cylindrically anisotropic model. Due to the growth conditions of a tree, the fiber course in wooden structural parts can differ. Especially branches, leading to knots, affect the mechanical properties. Therefore, an approach for the modelling of these growth inhomogeneities is presented. For the three-dimensional determination of the fiber course in the area of the inhomogeneities, an optimization procedure, using the idea of minimization of shear stresses in tree growth, has been developed. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Uniqueness for the determination of sound-soft defects in an inhomogeneous planar medium by acoustic boundary measurements

We consider the inverse problem of determining shape and location of sound-soft defects inside a known planar inhomogeneous and anisotropic medium through acoustic imaging at low frequency. In order to determine the defects, we perform acoustic boundary measurements, with prescribed boundary conditions of different types. We prove that at most two, suitably chosen, measurements allow us to uniquely determine multiple defects under minimal regularity assumptions on the defects and the medium containing them. Finally, we treat applications of these results to the case of inverse scattering.

     

Longitudinal normals and the existence of acoustic axes in crystals

We obtain three conditions on the phase speeds of the longitudinal and transverse waves propagating along the longitudinal normals in a crystal so that each of these conditions guarantees existence of acoustic axes in this crystal. The result is based on the properties of the rational-valued topological degree and of the index of a singular point for some classes of discontinuous mappings. In addition, we give an upper estimate of the number of acoustic axes in a crystal and show some interrelation between their indices.     

Existence of solutions to an anisotropic phase‐field model

We consider an anisotropic phase‐field model for the isothermal solidification of a binary alloy due to Warren–Boettinger ( Acta. Metall. Mater. 1995; 43 (2):689). Existence of weak solutions is established under a certain convexity condition on the strongly non‐linear second‐order anisotropic operator and Lipschitz and boundedness assumptions for the non‐linearities. A maximum principle holds that guarantees the existence of a solution under physical assumptions on the non‐linearities. The qualitative properties of the solutions are illustrated by a numerical example. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global smooth solution for the modified anisotropic 3D Boussinesq equations with damping

This paper is mainly concerned with the modified anisotropic three-dimensional Boussinesq equations with damping. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of global solution of velocity anisotropic equations. Then we establish the well-posedness of global solution of temperature anisotropic equations.     

Modelling and optimal control of coupled structural acoustic systems with piezoelectric elements

We construct a model of a shell with piezoelectric elements (patches) that take into account the mutual influence of deformations and electric fields. Coupled problems for the shell with piezoelectric patches and an acoustic field, are studied and results on the existence and the uniqueness are obtained. For this system we consider an optimal control problem on noise attenuation and obtain results on the existence, the uniqueness, necessary and sufficient conditions of optimality. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE FIRST BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM FOR STRONGLY DEGENERATE QUASILINEAR PARABOLIC EQUATIONS IN ANISOTROPIC SOBOLEV SPACES

This article concerns the existence of weak solutions of the first boundary value problem for a kind of strongly degenerate quasilinear parabolic equation in the anisotropic Sobolev Space. With the theory of anisotropic Sobolev spaces an existence result is proved.     

Anomalous waves as an object of statistical topography: Problem statement

Based on ideas of statistical topography, we analyze the boundary-value problem of the appearance of anomalous large waves (rogue waves) on the sea surface. The boundary condition for the sea surface is regarded as a closed stochastic quasilinear equation in the kinematic approximation. We obtain the stochastic Liouville equation, which underlies the derivation of an equation describing the joint probability density of fields of sea surface displacement and its gradient. We formulate the statistical problem with the stochastic topographic inhomogeneities of the sea bottom taken into account. It describes diffusion in the phase space, and its solution must answer the question whether information about the existence of anomalous large waves is contained in the quasilinear equation under consideration.     

Nonlinear Degenerate Anisotropic Elliptic Equations with Variable Exponents and L1 Data

This paper is devoted to the study of a nonlinear anisotropic elliptic equation with degenerate coercivity, lower order term and L¹ datum in appropriate anisotropic variable exponents Sobolev spaces. We obtain the existence of distributional solutions.     

Stability of Fronts in Inhomogeneous Wave Equations

Acta Applicandae Mathematicae - This paper presents an introduction to the existence and stability of stationary fronts in wave equations with finite length spatial inhomogeneities. The main focus...