Resonance frequencies of a spherical aluminum shell subject to static internal pressure

Measurements of the vibrational response of a spherical aluminum shell subject to changes in the interior pressure clearly demonstrate that resonance frequencies shift higher as the pressure is increased. The frequency shift appears to be smaller for longitudinal modes than for bending wave modes. The magnitude of frequency shift is comparable to analytical predictions made for thin cylindrical shells. Changes in the amplitudes of resonance peaks are also observed. A possible application of this result is a method for noninvasively monitoring pressure changes inside sealed containers, including intracranial pressure in humans.