On the sound field of a resilient disk in free space

Radiation characteristics are calculated for a circular planar sound source in free space with a uniform surface pressure distribution, which can be regarded as a freely suspended membrane with zero mass and stiffness. This idealized dipole source is shown to have closed form solutions for its far-field pressure response and radiation admittance. The latter is found to have a simple mathematical relationship with the radiation impedance of a rigid piston in an infinite baffle. Also, a single expansion is derived for the near-field pressure field, which degenerates to a closed form solution on the axis of symmetry. From the normal gradient of the surface pressure, the surface velocity is calculated. The near-field expression is then generalized to an arbitrary surface pressure distribution. It is shown how this can be used as a simplified solution for a rigid disk in free space or a more realistic sound source such as pre-tensioned membrane in free space with non-zero mass and a clamped rim.