Air-borne sound generated by sea waves

This paper describes a semi-empiric model and measurements of air-borne sound generated by breaking sea waves. Measurements have been performed at the Baltic Sea. Shores with different slopes and sediment types have been investigated. Results showed that the sound pressure level increased from 60 dB at 0.4 m wave height to 78 dB at 2.0 m wave height. The 1/3 octave spectrum was dependent on the surf type. A scaling model based on the dissipated wave power and a surf similarity parameter is proposed and compared to measurements. The predictions show satisfactory agreement to the measurements.     

Examination of bone-conducted transmission from sound field excitation measured by thresholds, ear-canal sound pressure, and skull vibrations

Bone conduction (BC) relative to air conduction (AC) sound field sensitivity is here defined as the perceived difference between a sound field transmitted to the ear by BC and by AC. Previous investigations of BC-AC sound field sensitivity have used different estimation methods and report estimates that vary by up to 20 dB at some frequencies. In this study, the BC-AC sound field sensitivity was investigated by hearing threshold shifts, ear canal sound pressure measurements, and skull bone vibrations measured with an accelerometer. The vibration measurement produced valid estimates at 400 Hz and below, the threshold shifts produced valid estimates at 500 Hz and above, while the ear canal sound pressure measurements were found erroneous for estimating the BC-AC sound field sensitivity. The BC-AC sound field sensitivity is proposed, by combining the present result with others, as frequency independent at 50 to 60 dB at frequencies up to 900 Hz. At higher frequencies, it is frequency dependent with minima of 40 to 50 dB at 2 and 8 kHz, and a maximum of 50 to 60 dB at 4 kHz. The BC-AC sound field sensitivity is the theoretical limit of maximum attenuation achievable with ordinary hearing protection devices.     

Acoustic propagation in the subsurface sound channel

Experimental data obtained in the kilohertz frequency band for the sound propagation in the subsurface channel formed by the wind-caused mixing of subsurface waters are discussed. The data were obtained in different years in the northeastern region of the Atlantic Ocean, where the subsurface waters down to the depths of 40–70 m are mixed by both wind waves and the swell that arrives from distant ocean areas. The hydrological conditions in the subsurface waters of this region are characterized by a good reproducibility. The spatial structure of the sound field and the attenuation of sound propagating in the subsurface channel are analyzed. The origin of the additional attenuation (in comparison with the absorption in sea water) is discussed. The data of our experiments are compared with those obtained by other experimenters and with the calculations performed using the computer code by Avilov. The necessity of improving the computer codes to allow for the scattering of sound beyond the channel under the influence of the swell, whose parameters are unrelated to the wind regime at the experimental site, is emphasized.     

热疗用环形平面换能器声场特性的研究

引入负声源，导出了环形平面换能器声场的简洁表示式，计算了单个圆环、多个同心圆环同时激励及环阵相控聚焦声源产生的声场，分析了环的宽度、环数及聚焦点位置等因素对声场特征的影响。提出根据各阵元在声场中某点产生的声压的相位来确定各阵元电激励信号的延时，此方法较根据各阵元到该点的平均声程确定各阵元电激励信号的延时，能更难确地在该点实现聚焦。     

Comparison of sound fields generated by different coded excitations--experimental results

This work reports the results of measurements of spatial distributions of ultrasound fields obtained from five energizing schemes. Three different codes, namely, chirp signal and two sinusoidal sequences were investigated. The sequences were phase modulated with 13 bits Barker code and 16 bits Golay complementary codes. Moreover, two reference signals generated as two and sixteen cycle sine tone bursts were examined. Planar, 50% (fractional) bandwidth, 15 mm diameter source transducer operating at 2 MHz center frequency was used in all measurements. The experimental data were collected using computerized scanning system and recorded using wideband, PVDF membrane hydrophone (Sonora 804). The measured echoes were compressed, so the complete pressure field in the investigated location before and after compression could be compared. In addition to a priori anticipated increase in the signal to noise ratio (SNR) for the decoded pressure fields, the results indicated differences in the pressure amplitude levels, directivity patterns, and the axial distance at which the maximum pressure amplitude was recorded. It was found that the directivity patterns of non-compressed fields exhibited shapes similar to the patterns characteristic for sinusoidal excitation having relatively long time duration. In contrast, the patterns corresponding to compressed fields resembled those produced by brief, wideband pulses. This was particularly visible in the case of binary sequences. The location of the maximum pressure amplitude measured in the 2 MHz field shifted towards the source by 15 mm and 25 mm for Barker code and Golay code, respectively. The results of this work may be applicable in the development of new coded excitation schemes. They could also be helpful in optimizing the design of imaging transducers employed in ultrasound systems designed for coded excitation. Finally, they could shed additional light on the relationship between the spatial field distribution and achievable image quality and in this way facilitate optimization of the images obtained using coded systems.     

Coupled hydrodynamic-acoustic modeling of sound generated by impacting cylindrical water jets

A coupled hydrodynamic-acoustic model describing acoustic propagation in a fluid containing multiple bubbles is proposed and applied to simulate noise generated by impacting water jets. The total pressure is decomposed into a "hydrodynamic" part and an "acoustic" part and computed using different schemes. The hydrodynamic pressure field is calculated independently using a generalized hydrodynamic model, and the pressure variations serve as sources in the wave equation for the acoustic pressure. A numerical algorithm developed to calculate wave propagation in an irregular region is used to account for the existence of the cavities. Noise generated by the impact of two cylindrical water jets is predicted. The computed near-field pressure is compared with the experimental data.     

Acoustic radiation generated by local excitation of submerged beams and strings

Free and forced motions of submerged one-dimensional waveguides have been investigated. Both the submerged beam and the submerged string can support a wave system which includes a pure surface wave in the fluid adjoining the waveguide, provided that certain conditions on the frequency (for the beam) or the physical parameters of the system (for the string) are satisfied. Dispersion curves are presented for steel beams and steel strings in water. Steady-state solutions have been derived for excitation by a concentrated time-harmonic load. The displacement responses at the point of application of the load and in the far field have been examined. Polar plots display and radiated far field in the fluid. At low frequencies the polar plots are circular in planes containing the waveguide, but the radiation pattern develops lobes as the frequency increases. Reflection, transmission and scattering into the fluid of an incident wave system by an elastic support of stiffness κ and mass m have also been examined, and the possibility of resonance phenomena has been investigated.     

Experimental studies of the pressures generated by a liquid oxygen slug in a magnetic field

The strong paramagnetic susceptibility of liquid oxygen (LOX) has established it as a good candidate for a cryogenic magnetic fluid system. While its properties have been known for several decades, a fundamental understanding of the behavior of LOX in a magnetically controlled fluid system is needed for the development of a suitable space application that can operate reliably and efficiently. This study conducted quantitative experiments on the dynamics of a LOX slug in a tube when subjected to electrically-induced magnetic fields within a solenoid. The experiments used a quartz tube with an inner diameter of 1.9 mm and LOX slugs of 0.6, 1.3, 1.9, 2.5, and 3.2 mm length at various initial positions relative to the solenoid. The pressures generated by the motion of the LOX slug under the magnetic force were recorded to characterize the pressure differential generated and the breakdown of the slug. The highest attainable pressure differential was found to be 1.45 kPa, which correlated well to theoretical predictions once the analysis accounted for the resistance heating of the solenoid. The noted differences between experimental results and theory could also be attributed to impeded slug motion from shear and mass forces. Within the workable pressure range, however, an optimal slug length was found which appropriately balances the pressure, shear, and magnetic forces in the system. This paper presents the experimental data on the dynamics and the maximum pressure differential generated by a LOX slug in a magnetic field and discusses the viability of LOX in a magnetic fluid management system intended for space applications.     

Acoustic streaming generated by standing waves in two-dimensional channels of arbitrary width

An analytic solution is derived for acoustic streaming generated by a standing wave in a viscous fluid that occupies a two-dimensional channel of arbitrary width. The main restriction is that the boundary layer thickness is a small fraction of the acoustic wavelength. Both the outer, Rayleigh streaming vortices and the inner, boundary layer vortices are accurately described. For wide channels and outside the boundary layer, the solution is in agreement with results obtained by others for Rayleigh streaming. As channel width is reduced, the inner vortices increase in size relative to the Rayleigh vortices. For channel widths less than about 10 times the boundary layer thickness, the Rayleigh vortices disappear and only the inner vortices exist. The obtained solution is compared with those derived by Rayleigh, Westervelt, Nyborg, and Zarembo.     

Acoustic waves generated by a laser line pulse in a hollow cylinder

A theoretical solution is proposed to predict acoustic waves generated in a homogeneous and isotropic hollow cylinder by a laser line source under either ablation or thermoelastic regime. The Fourier series expansion is introduced for one spatial coordinate to solve this transient response problem. Theoretical displacements are obtained in both regimes for aluminum hollow cylinders with various thickness including a rod of the same size. The corresponding displacements are observed experimentally by the laser ultrasonic technique. Agreement has been found in the time arrival, shape and relative amplitude of surface waves and various longitudinal and transverse bulk waves. These acoustic waves are further identified by the ray trajectory analysis. This work will be helpful when dealing with the inverse problem of the nondestructive evaluation of hollow cylindrical parts.     

An experimental study of sound generated by flows around cylinders of different cross-section

The sound radiated by rigid cylinders placed transversely in a uniform stream has been measured in an anechoic wind tunnel over a range of Mach numbers (M=0.09-0.2). The cylinders have different cross-sections, e.g., circular, square, rectangular, elliptic, and circular with lateral ribs or knurled surfaces. Different length to diameter ratios of the cylinders are also investigated. Results are presented as narrow band spectra, measured in the far field (acoustic as well as geometric). All spectra are presented with dimensionless (scaled) axes, as well as the original dimensional scales. It is shown that elliptic cross-sections are less noisy, compared to all other cylinders, but noise abatement techniques such as lateral ribs and knurled surfaces can also reduce tonal radiated noise. Two practical applications of these experiments are the reduction of radiated noise from pantographs of high-speed railway trains, and from the landing gear of modern passenger aircraft.     

Acoustic waves generated by a laser point pulse in a transversely isotropic cylinder

A three-dimensional (3D) model is presented to predict the acoustic waves generated by a laser point pulse in a transversely isotropic cylinder. The Fourier series expansion and the two-dimensional Fourier transform are introduced to calculate the 3D transient response under either the ablation or the thermoelastic generation. The presented physical model and the numerical inverse scheme are applied to a fiber reinforced composite cylinder with a strong anisotropy. Experimental radial displacements of the cylinder surface are detected by the laser ultrasonic technique and analyzed by the ray trajectories for both generation regimes. Corresponding theoretical displacements are obtained numerically and compared to the experimental signals. Good agreement is found between theoretical and experimental results. The focusing effects that anisotropy gives rise to are observed in both theory and experiment under either regime.     

Acoustic field generated by a beam of protons stopping in a water medium

In an experiment with a beam of protons accelerated up to an energy of 200 MeV, the space-time structure of the hydroacoustic field generated by protons stopping in the water medium was observed. The contributions of three components were separated: a cylindrical wave diverging from the middle part of the acoustic antenna and the signals from the ends of the antenna, namely, from the region of the maximal energy density release by protons (the Bragg peak) and from the other end corresponding to the beam entrance into water.