Sound generation and transmission in flow ducts with axial temperature gradients

This article describes a one-dimensional, linearized, analysis of fundamental mode sound generation and propagation in rigid-walled flow ducts with axial temperature variation. An acoustic wave equation, including damping effects and volume sources, is derived and its solution (in the absence of sources) by a numerical technique and an approximate analytical method is discussed. The “forced” wave equation is then solved (the existence of an oscillating solution to the “unforced” equation being assumed) for sound generation by a side-branch volume source in an infinite duct, and the results are applied to a duct of finite length. Reasonably good agreement is obtained between measurements and predictions of the sound pressure field in a flow duct, away from the source region.