bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Problems of Thermophysics and Thermal Engineering for the New Technologies of the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Kopp I. Z.
Published: June 2005

This review article gives an overview of some topics related to classical and modern problems in the theory of heat, its meaning for various branches, and thermal management of equipment. The specific requirements for new technologies involved in the thermal operation of miniaturized instruments, components of equipment, devices, units operating in fast-response regimes, improvement of heat resistance, reliability, and endurance are considered. Special requirements have been put forward for nanotechnologies, where engineering parts, elements of devices, and technological equipment have microscopic and submicroscopic dimensions. Also, the stringent requirements of thermal modes of modern large-scale technologies in such branches of industry as nuclear power engineering and rocket-space engineering have become more important and determining. The thermal modes of these technologies call for new approaches to the design of the thermodynamic state of micro- and macrosystems, high-temperature plasma, and cryogenic temperatures. New results of the study of the mechanism of heat transfer in phase transitions, principally in new approaches to the problem of enhancement of heat transfer in one- and two-phase flows are presented. The importance of studies of thermal processes providing reliable thermal modes of new power plants, microsystems, and nanotechnologies is shown. The significance of advances in the study of thermal processes for developing the theory of heat is discussed. Especially considered are achievements in the theory of heat for its role in the decisions of actual problems of biology, medicine, and environment. This review article cites 105 references, most of them in Russian.
Increased Temperature Margins Due to Constraint Loss
Authors: Bezensek Bostjan , Hancock John W.
Published: June 2005

Enhanced levels of toughness due to loss of crack tip constraint have been related to temperature shifts in the ductile–brittle transition curve. An argument to quantify the temperature shift is developed using the self-similarity of near-tip stress fields under contained yielding combined with scaling techniques developed by Dodds and co-workers (12) for cleavage. This allows the temperature changes which give the same stress field at failure in constrained and unconstrained fields to be determined. The procedure is illustrated using the data of Sherry et al. (3) for an A533B pressure vessel steel. The results are consistent with empirical expressions proposed by Wallin (4), and enable a discussion of the micromechanics of cleavage.
Analysis of Burst Conditions of Shielded Pressure Vessels Subjected to Space Debris Impact
Authors: Telitchev Igor Ye.
Published: June 2005

The present paper summarizes the results obtained from impacts on shielded pressure vessels and analyzes the conditions under which bursting of a shielded pressure vessels occur that are damaged by space debris. The semianalytical model was generated to describe the processes occurring upon impact of a hypervelocity projectile into a shielded vessel. A model capable to describe the failure mechanisms of damaged vessels is suggested. Nonlinear fracture mechanics techniques were used to analyze and predict whether a vessel perforation will lead to mere leakage of gas, or whether unstable crack propagation will occur that leads to catastrophic fracture of the vessel. The validity of the developed model is tested by simulating the experimental results.
Modeling Two-Phase Flow in Pipe Bends
Authors: Supa-Amornkul Savalaxs , Steward Frank R. , Lister Derek H.
Published: June 2005

In order to have a better understanding of the interaction between the two-phase steam-water coolant in the outlet feeder pipes of the primary heat transport system of some CANDU reactors and the piping material, themalhydraulic modelling is being performed with a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code—FLUENT 6.1. The modeling has attempted to describe the results of flow visualization experiments performed in a transparent feeder pipe with air-water mixtures at temperatures below 55°C. The CFD code solves two sets of transport equations—one for each phase. Both phases are first treated separately as homogeneous. Coupling is achieved through pressure and interphase exchange coefficients. A symmetric drag model is employed to describe the interaction between the phases. The geometry and flow regime of interest are a 73 deg bend in a 5.9cm diameter pipe containing water with a Reynolds number of ∼1E5-1E6. The modeling predicted single-phase pressure drop and flow accurately. For two-phase flow with an air voidage of 5–50%, the pressure drop measurements were less well predicted. Furthermore, the observation that an air-water mixture tended to flow toward the outside of the bend while a single-phase liquid layer developed at the inside of the bend was not predicted. The CFD modeling requires further development for this type of geometry with two-phase flow of high voidage.
Design Analysis of Moored Floating Caisson System
Authors: Chakrabarti Partha , Chakrabarti Subrata K. , Mukkamala Adinarayana , Anavekar Nagaraj , Qiang Shen , Sri Krishna M.
Published: June 2005

Tacoma Narrows Constructors (TNC) are building a new suspension bridge in Tacoma, close to Seattle, Washington State, USA. The new bridge is being built just south of the existing bridge mounted on two caissons. The caissons are constructed on location after the shallow draft caissons are towed to site. During the construction sequence, the mooring system for each caisson consists of two sets of 16 mooring lines. The lower 16 lines are hooked-up after the shallow draft caisson is towed from the harbor and positioned at the site. The fairlead locations for these lines are kept constant throughout the construction process. The fairlead locations for the upper 16 lines (except three lines on the East Caisson) vary based on the caisson draft. The caissons are subject to a high current from the ebb and flood tide flow in the Narrows. The new caissons are in close proximity to the existing piers and the bottom topography at the site is varying. Therefore, considerable turbulence and vortex shedding is expected in the prevailing current, which will cause current-induced dynamic forces on the caissons. This paper describes the design and analysis of this multiline mooring system for Tacoma Narrows Bridge caissons, based on the construction sequence in the floating condition. The analysis involved optimizing the anchor locations and the line pretensions, determining the dynamic motions of the caissons, the maximum line loads, and the corresponding safety factors. The paper also describes the hydrodynamic analysis for added mass, and damping, the methodology used for the nonlinear moored caisson analysis (MOTSIM), and the validation of the design tool with other similar models (e.g., STRUCAD*3D). The results of the analysis and the design of the system are discussed.
Prosodic strengthening and featural enhancement: Evidence from acoustic and articulatory realizations of /ɑ,i/ in English
Authors: Cho Taehong
Published: June 2005

In this study the effects of accent and prosodic boundaries on the production of English vowels (/ɑ,i/), by concurrently examining acoustic vowel formants and articulatory maxima of the tongue, jaw, and lips obtained with EMA (Electromagnetic Articulography) are investigated. The results demonstrate that prosodic strengthening (due to accent and/or prosodic boundaries) has differential effects depending on the source of prominence (in accented syllables versus at edges of prosodic domains; domain initially versus domain finally). The results are interpreted in terms of how the prosodic strengthening is related to phonetic realization of vowel features. For example, when accented, /i/ was fronter in both acoustic and articulatory vowel spaces (enhancing [−back]), accompanied by an increase in both lip and jaw openings (enhancing sonority). By contrast, at edges of prosodic domains (especially domain-finally), /i/ was not necessarily fronter, but higher (enhancing [+high]), accompanied by an increase only in the lip (not jaw) opening. This suggests that the two aspects of prosodic structure (accent versus boundary) are differentiated by distinct phonetic patterns. Further, it implies that prosodic strengthening, though manifested in fine-grained phonetic details, is not simply a low-level phonetic event but a complex linguistic phenomenon, closely linked to the enhancement of phonological features and positional strength that may license phonological contrasts.
Low-frequency wind noise correlation in microphone arrays
Authors: Douglas Shields F.
Published: June 2005

A three-axis orthogonal microphone array with ten sensors in each arm has been used to study wind noise in the frequency range from 0.05 to 50 Hz. Simultaneous measurements were made of the three components of the varying wind velocity. Measurements have been made for wind speeds from 4 to 7 m/s at three different sites. The frequency-dependent correlation of the wind noise over a range of wind velocities and atmospheric and environmental conditions in the downwind direction varies as exp(−3.2X)cos(2πX). For the crosswind and vertical directions, the correlation decays approximately as exp(−7Y), where X is the separation in wavelengths in the downwind direction and Y is this separation in the crosswind or vertical direction. Over a limited range of wave numbers, the power density spectra of the varying wind velocity varied as the wave number to the −53 power and the pressure spectra as the −73 power.
Pure tone audiograms and possible aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)
Authors: Finneran James J. , Carder Donald A. , Dear Randall , Belting Traci , McBain Jim , Dalton Les , Ridgway Sam H.
Published: June 2005

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure pure-tone hearing sensitivities in two belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Tests were conducted over a 20-month period at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, in Tacoma, WA. Subjects were two males, aged 8–10 and 9–11 during the course of the study. Subjects were born in an oceanarium and had been housed together for all of their lives. Hearing thresholds were measured using a modified up/down staircase procedure and acoustic response paradigm where subjects were trained to produce audible responses to test tones and to remain quiet otherwise. Test frequencies ranged from approximately 2 to 130 kHz. Best sensitivities ranged from approximately 40 to 50 dB re 1 μPa at 50–80 kHz and 30–35 kHz for the two subjects. Although both subjects possessed traditional “U-shaped” mammalian audiograms, one subject exhibited significant high-frequency hearing loss above 37 kHz compared to previously published data for belugas. Hearing loss in this subject was estimated to approach 90 dB for frequencies above 50 kHz. Similar ages, ancestry, and environmental conditions between subjects, but a history of ototoxic drug administration in only one subject, suggest that the observed hearing loss was a result of the aminoglycoside antibiotic amikacin.
Model-oriented ocean tomography using higher frequency, bottom-mounted hydrophones
Authors: Lewis James K. , Rudzinsky Jason , Rajan Subramaniam , Stein Peter J. , Vandiver Amy ,   The KauaiEx Group
Published: June 2005

A tomographic scheme is presented that ingests ocean acoustic measurements into an ocean model using data from bottom-mounted hydrophones. The short distances between source-receiver pairs (1–10 km) means arrival times at frequencies of 8–11 kHz are readily detectable and often distinguishable. The influence of ocean surface motion causes considerable variability in acoustic travel times. Techniques are presented for measuring travel times and removing the variability due to surface waves. An assimilation technique is investigated that uses differences in measured and modeled acoustic travel times to impose corrections on the oceanographic model. Equations relating travel time differences to oceanographic variables are derived, and techniques are presented for estimating the acoustic and ocean model error covariance matrices. One test case using a single source-receiver pair shows that the tomographic information can have an impact on constraining the solution of the ocean circulation model but can also introduce biases in the predictions. A second test case utilizes knowledge of a bias in a model-predicted variable to limit grid cells that are impacted by the tomographic data. In this case, using the tomographic data results in significant improvements in the model predictions without introducing any biases.
A computer model of the auditory-nerve response to forward-masking stimuli
Authors: Meddis Ray , O’Mard Lowel P.
Published: June 2005

A computer model of the auditory periphery is used to study the involvement of auditory-nerve (AN) adaptation in forward-masking effects. An existing model is shown to simulate published AN recovery functions both qualitatively and quantitatively after appropriate parameter adjustments. It also simulates published data showing only small threshold shifts when a psychophysical forward-masking paradigm is applied to AN responses. The model is extended to simulate a simple but physiologically plausible mechanism for making threshold decisions based on coincidental firing of a number of AN fibers. When this is used, much larger threshold shifts are observed of a size consistent with published psychophysical observations. The problem of how stimulus-driven firing can be distinguished from spontaneous activity near threshold is also addressed by the same decision mechanism. Overall, the modeling results suggest that poststimulatory reductions in AN activity can make a substantial contribution to the raised thresholds observed in many psychophysical studies of forward masking.
Acoustic properties of rarefied gases inside pores of simple geometries
Authors: Kozlov Vitaly F. , Fedorov Alexander V. , Malmuth Norman D.
Published: June 2005

Analytical solutions describing propagation of monochromatic acoustic waves inside long pores of simple geometries and narrow flat slits are obtained with accounting for gas rarefaction effects. It is assumed that molecular nature of gas is important in Knudsen layers near solid boundaries. Outside the Knudsen layers, the continuum approach is used. This model allows for extension of acoustic analysis to regions of low pressures and microscopic cross-sectional sizes of channels. The problem is solved using linearized Navier-Stokes equations with the boundary conditions that resulted from the first-order approximation with respect to small Knudsen number Kn. For slits and pores of circular and square cross sections, the theoretical dependencies of the dynamic density in the low-frequency range are compared with those that resulted from known experimental data on steady-state flows of rarefied gases in uniform channels. Despite the formal restriction Kn≪1 of asymptotic analysis, the theoretical model agrees well with experiments up to Kn∼5. It is shown that the molecular phenomena affect acoustic characteristics of micro-channels and pores starting from relatively small Knudsen numbers Kn>0.01, especially at low frequencies. The obtained results may be used for analyses of acoustic properties of waveguides, perforated panels, micro-channels and pores in wide range of gas pressures as well as for stationary flows of rarefied gases through long uniform pipes etc.
Acoustic backscatter measurements from littoral seabeds at shallow grazing angles at 4 and 8 kHz
Authors: Hines Paul C. , Osler John C. , MacDougald Darcy J.
Published: June 2005

Direct measurement of acoustic scattering from the seabed at shallow grazing angles and low kilohertz frequencies presents a considerable challenge in littoral waters. Specifically, returns from the air–water interface typically contaminate the signals of interest. To address this issue, DRDC Atlantic has developed a sea-going research system for measuring acoustic scatter from the seabed in shallow-water environs. The system, known as the wideband sonar (WBS), consists of a parametric array transmitter and a superdirective receiver. In this paper, backscatter measurements obtained with the WBS at two sandy, shallow-water sites off North America’s Atlantic coast are presented. Data were collected at 4 and 8 kHz at grazing angles from 3°–15°. The backscattering strength is similar at both sites and, below about 8°, it appears to be independent of frequency within the statistical accuracy of the data. The measurements show reasonable agreement with model estimates of backscatter from sandy sediments. A small data set was collected at one of the sites to examine the feasibility of using the WBS to measure the azimuthal variability of acoustic scatter. The data set—although limited—indicates that the parametric array’s narrow beamwidth makes the system well-suited to this task.
Shear-horizontal acoustic wave propagation in piezoelectric bounded plates with metal gratings
Authors: Chen Shi , Tang Tiantong , Wang Zhaohong
Published: June 2005

In this paper, shear-horizontal (SH) acoustic wave propagation in metal gratings deposited on piezoelectric bounded plates is investigated. The spectral characteristics of the electromechanical coupling coefficient are studied first, which are very important for acoustic wave device designs. And, an effective mathematic method based on even- and odd base functions is also presented for overcoming the large frequency thickness product problem. Then, the characteristics of the grating modes are studied, and the nature and characteristics of the stop bands are investigated fully. The results show that the width and attenuation of the stop bands are dominated by the electromechanical coupling coefficient at the frequency centers of the stop bands.
Pitch discrimination interference: The role of pitch pulse asynchrony
Authors: Gockel Hedwig , Carlyon Robert P. , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: June 2005

Gockel, Carlyon, and Plack [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 1092–1104 (2004)] showed that discrimination of the fundamental frequency (F0) of a target tone containing only unresolved harmonics was impaired when an interfering complex tone with fixed F0 was added to the target, but filtered into a lower frequency region. This pitch discrimination interference (PDI) was greater when the interferer contained resolved harmonics than when it contained only unresolved harmonics. Here, it is examined whether this occurred because, when the interferer contained unresolved harmonics, “pitch pulse asynchrony (PPA)” between the target and interferer provided a cue that enhanced performance; this was possible in the earlier experiment because both target and interferer had components added in sine phase. In experiment 1, it was shown that subjects were moderately sensitive to the direction of PPA across frequency regions. In experiments 2 and 3, PPA cues were eliminated by adding the components of the target only, or of both target and interferer, in random phase. For both experiments, an interferer containing resolved harmonics produced more PDI than an interferer containing unresolved harmonics. These results show that PDI is smaller for an interferer with unresolved harmonics even when cues related to PPA are eliminated.
Tracking the time to recovery after induced loudness reduction (L)
Authors: Arieh Yoav , Kelly Karen , Marks Lawrence E.
Published: June 2005

In induced loudness reduction (ILR), a strong tone causes the loudness of a subsequently presented weak tone to decrease. The aim of the experiment was to determine the time required for loudness to return to its initial level after ILR. Twenty-four subjects were exposed to 5, 10, 20, or 40 brief bursts of 2500-Hz pure tones at 80-dB SPL (inducers) and then tested in a series of paired comparison trials. Subjects compared the loudness of a weak target (2500 Hz at 60-dB SPL) to the loudness of a comparison tone at 500 Hz previously judged to match the target. The comparison task was repeated until the two tones were again judged equally loud. The results showed that (a) recovery after ILR is a relatively long process with a time scale of minutes, and (b) recovery time increased approximately 20 s with each doubling of the number of inducers.
Phase-space analysis of acoustics fields and its application to waveguide
Authors: Teyssandier B. , Pagneux V. , Simon L. , Depollier C.
Published: June 2005

A description of two-dimensional acoustic fields by means of a joint “space-wave number” representation is discussed. A function defined in the phase-space domain (x,y,kx,ky) is associated with a signal which is a function of spatial coordinates (x,y). This paper presents two methods to realize it. The first is to associate with each point (x,y) of the wave field a two-dimensional wave number spectrum (kx,ky), called local spectrum. The second is to process by other coordinates the wave field along an arbitrary direction, introduced in quantum mechanics for the study of classical billiards, and provided by the Birkhoff variables (s,cos φ). Phase-space diagrams are given by quadratic phase-space distributions. Simulations are presented for wave fields in a 2D planar waveguide for a pedagogical point of view with Gaussian beam or point-source excitation, and nonuniform waveguides as a sudden area expansion chamber and an open billiard with a single incoming mode at the entrance of each of them. In these problems, local spectrum and Birkhoff analysis are used in order to identify the structures hidden in the field. The result is the contribution of different wave vectors which contribute to the field value at the analysis point or at a certain section of the boundary, and show complicated structure of the acoustic field like whispering gallery or diffracted waves.
The effect of reduced vowel working space on speech intelligibility in Mandarin-speaking young adults with cerebral palsy
Authors: Liu Huei-Mei , Tsao Feng-Ming , Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: June 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of reduced vowel working space on dysarthric talkers’ speech intelligibility using both acoustic and perceptual approaches. In experiment 1, the acoustic–perceptual relationship between vowel working space area and speech intelligibility was examined in Mandarin-speaking young adults with cerebral palsy. Subjects read aloud 18 bisyllabic words containing the vowels /i/, /a/, and /u/ using their normal speaking rate. Each talker’s words were identified by three normal listeners. The percentage of correct vowel and word identification were calculated as vowel intelligibility and word intelligibility, respectively. Results revealed that talkers with cerebral palsy exhibited smaller vowel working space areas compared to ten age-matched controls. The vowel working space area was significantly correlated with vowel intelligibility (r=0.632, p<0.005) and with word intelligibility (r=0.684, p<0.005). Experiment 2 examined whether tokens of expanded vowel working spaces were perceived as better vowel exemplars and represented with greater perceptual spaces than tokens of reduced vowel working spaces. The results of the perceptual experiment support this prediction. The distorted vowels of talkers with cerebral palsy compose a smaller acoustic space that results in shrunken intervowel perceptual distances for listeners.
Estimation of dynamic elastic constants from the amplitude and velocity of Rayleigh waves
Authors: Bayón Ana , Gascón Francisco , Nieves Francisco J.
Published: June 2005

In this paper a method is proposed to characterize the elasticity of isotropic linear materials from the generation and detection of an acoustic surface wave. For the calculation of the elastic constants, it is sufficient that only one of the faces of the sample be accessible. The methodology is based on both the measurement of the Rayleigh wave velocity and on the determination of the normal to longitudinal amplitude ratio calculated from the normal and longitudinal components of the displacement of a point. The detection of two consecutive surface wave pulses using a single experimental setup permits the determination of the elastic constants. The method is applied to calculate Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of an aluminum sample as well as their systematic uncertainties. The results obtained give a relative uncertainty for Young’s modulus on the order of the sixth part of that calculated for Poisson’s ratio.
Application of the rational function approximation to Wiener–Hopf calculations for fluid-loaded plates
Authors: Rumerman M. L.
Published: June 2005

This paper discusses the Wiener–Hopf analysis for the solution of fluid-loaded plate problems when the planar acoustic impedance is represented by a rational function approximation. With such a formulation, the factorization of the integrand kernel can immediately be written once the system poles are determined. The approach is applied to several representative problems, and the approximate results are shown to be in agreement with those of exact solutions.
Evaluation of decay times in coupled spaces: Reliability analysis of Bayeisan decay time estimation
Authors: Xiang Ning , Goggans Paul M. , Jasa Tomsilav , Kleiner Mendel
Published: June 2005

This paper discusses quantitative tools to evaluate the reliability of “decay time estimates” and inter-relationships between multiple decay times for estimates made within a Bayesian framework. Previous works [Xiang and Goggans, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 1415–1424 (2001); 113, 2685–2697 (2003)] have applied Bayesian framework to cope with the demanding tasks in estimating multiple decay times from Schroeder decay functions measured in acoustically coupled spaces. A parametric model of Schroeder decay function [Xiang, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 98, 2112–2121 (1995)] has been used for the Bayesian model-based analysis. The relevance of this work is that architectural acousticians need to know how well determined are the estimated decay times calculated within Bayesian framework using Schroeder decay function data. This paper will first address the estimation of global variance of the residual errors between the Schroeder function data and its model. Moreover, this paper discusses how the “landscape” shape of the posterior probability density function over the decay parameter space influences the individual decay time estimates, their associated variances, and their inter-relationships. This paper uses experimental results from measured room impulse responses in real halls to describe a model-based sampling method for an efficient estimation of decay times, and their individual variances. These parameters along with decay times are relevant decay parameters for evaluation and understanding of acoustically coupled spaces.
The effect of stimulus-frequency ratio on distortion product otoacoustic emission components
Authors: Dhar Sumitrajit , Long Glenis R. , Talmadge Carrick L. , Tubis Arnold
Published: June 2005

A detailed measurement of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) fine structure was used to extract estimates of the two major components believed to contribute to the overall DPOAE level in the ear canal. A fixed-ratio paradigm was used to record DPOAE fine structure from three normal-hearing ears over a range of 400 Hz for 12 different stimulus-frequency ratios between 1.053 and 1.36 and stimulus levels between 45 and 75 dB SPL. Inverse Fourier transforms of the amplitude and phase data were filtered to extract the early component from the generator region of maximum stimulus overlap and the later component reflected from the characteristic frequency region of the DPOAE. After filtering, the data were returned to the frequency domain to evaluate the impact of the stimulus-frequency ratio and stimulus level on the relative levels of the components. Although there were significant differences between data from different ears some consistent patterns could be detected. The component from the overlap region of the stimulus tones exhibits a bandpass shape, with the maximum occurring at a ratio of 1.2. The mean data from the DPOAE characteristic frequency region also exhibits a bandpass shape but is less sharply tuned and exhibits greater variety across ears and stimulus levels. The component from the DPOAE characteristic frequency region is dominant at ratios narrower than approximately 1.1 (the transition varies between ears). The relative levels of the two components are highly variable at ratios greater than 1.3 and highly dependent on the stimulus level. The reflection component is larger at all ratios at the lowest stimulus level tested (45/45 dB SPL). We discuss the factors shaping DPOAE-component behavior and some cursory implications for the choice of stimulus parameters to be used in clinical protocols.
Multiple scattering by random configurations of circular cylinders: Second-order corrections for the effective wavenumber
Authors: Linton C. M. , Martin P. A.
Published: June 2005

A formula for the effective wavenumber in a dilute random array of identical scatterers in two dimensions is derived, based on Lax’s quasicrystalline approximation. This formula replaces a widely-used expression due to Twersky, which is shown to be based on an inappropriate choice of pair-correlation function.
A note on reflection of spherical waves
Authors: Taraldsen Gunnar
Published: June 2005

In 1909 Sommerfeld gave an exact solution for the reflection of a spherical wave from a plane surface in terms of an oscillatory integral and also presented an asymptotic solution for the case where both source and receiver are at the boundary. Weyl (1919) presented an alternative solution and also an asymptotic solution for the case where the source is at the boundary. It is known that the general case is solved if a general solution for the case where the source is at the boundary is known. Here it is demonstrated that it is sufficient to have the general solution for the case where both source and receiver are at the boundary. This is mainly of theoretical interest, but may have practical applications. As an example it is demonstrated that Sommerfeld’s approximate solution gives Ingard’s (1951) approximate solution which is valid for arbitrary source and receiver heights.
Torsional wave experiments with a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration
Authors: Kim Yoon Young , Park Chan Il , Cho Seung Hyun , Han Soon Woo
Published: June 2005

For the efficient long-range nondestructive structural health inspection of pipes, guided waves have become widely used. Among the various guided wave modes, the torsional wave is most preferred since its first branch is nondispersive. Our objective in this work is to develop a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration to transmit and receive torsional waves in cylindrical waveguides. The conventional magnetostrictive transducer for the generation and measurement of torsional waves consists of solenoid coils and a nickel strip bonded circumferentially to test pipes. The strip must be premagnetized by a permanent magnet before actual measurements. Because of the premagnetization, the transducer is not suitable for the long-term on-line monitoring of pipes buried underground. To avoid the cumbersome premagnetization and to improve the transduction efficiency, we propose a new transducer configuration using several pieces of nickel strips installed at 45° with respect to the pipe axis. If a static bias magnetic field is also applied, the transducer output can be substantially increased. Several experiments were conducted to study the performance of the proposed transducer configuration. The proposed transducer configuration was also applied for damage detection in an aluminum pipe.
Relationships between experienced listener ratings of multichannel audio quality and naïve listener preferences
Authors: Rumsey Francis , Zielinski Slawomir , Kassier Rafael , Bech Søren
Published: June 2005

The preferences of a large number of naïve listeners were elicited in response to a selection of multichannel audio items that had been degraded in quality by using band-limiting and down-mixing algorithms. Relationships were sought between these preference ratings and the quality judgements of experienced listeners in an attempt to determine whether one could be predicted from the other. Results suggest that a simple regression model can be used to do this with adequate results, but that a better prediction can be successfully based on experienced listener ratings of timbral and spatial fidelity. There is a difference between naïve and experienced listeners in the weightings of the fidelities and their relationship to overall quality.
The behavioral response of mice to gaps in noise depends on its spectral components and its bandwidth
Authors: Ison James R. , Allen Paul D. , Rivoli Peter J. , Moore Jason T.
Published: June 2005

The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether detecting brief decrements in noise level (“gaps”) varies with the spectral content and bandwidth of noise in mice as it does in humans. The behavioral effect of gaps was quantified by their inhibiting a subsequent acoustic startle reflex. Gap durations from 1 to 29 ms were presented in five adjacent 1-octave noise bands and one 5-octave band, their range being 2 kHz to 64 kHz. Gaps ended 60 ms before the startle stimulus (experiment 1) or at startle onset (experiment 2). Asymptotic inhibition was greater for higher-frequency 1-octave bands and highest for the 5-octave band in both experiments, but time constants were related to frequency only in experiment 1. For the lowest band (2–4 kHz) neither noise decrements (experiment 1 and 2) nor increments (experiment 3) had any behavioral consequence, but this band was effective when presented as a pulse in quiet (experiment 4). The lowest frequencies in the most effective 1-octave band were one octave above the spectral region where mice have their best absolute thresholds. These effects are similar to those obtained in humans, and reveal a special contribution of wide band, high-frequency stimulation to temporal acuity.
Transient-evoked stimulus-frequency and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in normal and impaired ears
Authors: Konrad-Martin Dawn , Keefe Douglas H.
Published: June 2005

Transient-evoked stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs), recorded using a nonlinear differential technique, and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured in 17 normal-hearing and 10 hearing-impaired subjects using pairs of tone pips (pp), gated tones (gg), and for DPOAEs, continuous and gated tones (cg). Temporal envelopes of stimulus and OAE waveforms were obtained by narrow-band filtering at the stimulus or DP frequency. Mean SFOAE latencies in normal ears at 2.7 and 4.0 kHz decreased with increasing stimulus level and were larger at 4.0 kHz than latencies in impaired ears. Equivalent auditory filter bandwidths were calculated as a function of stimulus level from SFOAE latencies by assuming that cochlear transmission is minimum phase. DPOAE latencies varied less with level than SFOAE latencies. The ppDPOAEs often had two (or more) peaks separated in time with latencies consistent with model predictions for distortion and reflection components. Changes in ppDPOAE latency with level were sometimes explained by a shift in relative amplitudes of distortion and reflection components. The ppSFOAE SPL within the main spectral lobe of the pip stimulus was higher for normal ears in the higher-frequency half of the pip than the lower-frequency half, which is likely an effect of basilar membrane two-tone suppression.
Ultrasonic particle concentration in a line-driven cylindrical tube
Authors: Goddard Gregory , Kaduchak Gregory
Published: June 2005

Acoustic particle manipulation has many potential uses in flow cytometry and microfluidic array applications. Currently, most ultrasonic particle positioning devices utilize a quasi-one-dimensional geometry to set up the positioning field. A transducer fit with a quarter-wave matching layer, locally drives a cavity of width one-half wavelength. Particles within the cavity experience a time-averaged drift force that transports them to a nodal position. Present research investigates an acoustic particle-positioning device where the acoustic excitation is generated by the entire structure, as opposed to a localized transducer. The lowest-order structural modes of a long cylindrical glass tube driven by a piezoceramic with a line contact are tuned, via material properties and aspect ratio, to match resonant modes of the fluid-filled cavity. The cylindrical geometry eliminates the need for accurate alignment of a transducer/reflector system, in contrast to the case of planar or confocal fields. Experiments show that the lower energy density in the cavity, brought about through excitation of the whole cylindrical tube, results in reduced cavitation, convection, and thermal gradients. The effects of excitation and material parameters on concentration quality are theoretically evaluated, using two-dimensional elastodynamic equations describing the fluid-filled cylindrical shell with a line excitation.
An aeroacoustically driven thermoacoustic heat pump
Authors: Slaton W. V. , Zeegers J. C. H.
Published: June 2005

The mean flow of gas in a pipe past a cavity can excite the resonant acoustic modes of the cavity—much like blowing across the top of a bottle. The periodic shedding of vortices from the leading edge of the mouth of the cavity feeds energy into the acoustic modes which, in turn, affect the shedding of the next vortex. This so-called aeroacoustic whistle can excite very high amplitude acoustic standing waves within a cavity defined by coaxial side branches closed at their ends. The amplitude of these standing waves can easily be 20% of the ambient pressure at optimal gas flow rates and ambient pressures within the main pipe. A standing wave thermoacoustic heat pump is a device which utilizes the in-phase pressure and displacement oscillations to pump heat across a porous medium thereby establishing, or maintaining, a temperature gradient. Experimental results of a combined system of aeroacoustic sound source and a simple thermoacoustic stack will be presented.
Prediction of reverberation time and speech transmission index in long enclosures
Authors: Li Kai Ming , Lam Pou Man
Published: June 2005

It is known that the sound field in a long space is not diffuse, and that the classic theory of room acoustics is not applicable. A theoretical model is developed for the prediction of reverberation time and speech transmission index in rectangular long enclosures, such as corridors and train stations, where the acoustic quality is important for speech. The model is based on an image-source method, and both acoustically hard and impedance boundaries are investigated. An approximate analytical solution is used to predict the frequency response of the sound field. The reverberation time is determined from the decay curve which is computed by a reverse-time integration of the squared impulse response. The angle-dependence of reflection coefficients of the boundaries and the change of phase upon reflection are incorporated in this model. Due to the relatively long distance of sound propagation, the effect of atmospheric absorption is also considered. Measurements of reverberation time and speech transmission index taken from a real tunnel, a corridor, and a model tunnel are presented. The theoretical predictions are found to agree well with the experimental data. An application of the proposed model has been suggested.
Numerical modeling of the sound fields in urban squares
Authors: Kang Jian
Published: June 2005

This paper studies the basic characteristics of sound fields in urban squares surrounded by reflecting building façades and the effectiveness of architectural changes and urban design options. A radiosity model and an image source model are developed, and a parametric study is carried out in hypothetical squares. The results show that the reverberation time (RT) is rather even in a square, whereas the early decay time (EDT) is very low in the near field, and then becomes close to RT after a rapid increase. Compared to diffuse boundaries, with geometrical boundaries the RT and EDT are significantly longer and the sound pressure level (SPL) attenuation with distance is generally smaller unless the height/side ratio is high. With a boundary diffusion coefficient of 0.2, the sound field is already close to that resulting from purely diffusely reflecting boundaries. The SPL in far field is typically 6–9 dB lower if the square side is doubled; 8 dB lower if the height of building façades is decreased from 50 m to 6 m (diffuse boundaries); 5 dB (diffuse boundaries) or 2 dB (geometrical boundaries) lower if the length/width ratio is increased from 1 to 4; and 10–12 dB lower if the boundary absorption coefficient is increased from 0.1 to 0.9.
Frequency domain expressions for the estimation of time-averaged acoustic energy density
Authors: Cazzolato Ben S. , Ghan Justin
Published: June 2005

This paper builds on earlier work by the same authors to derive expressions for the time-averaged acoustic energy density in the frequency domain using the auto- and cross-spectral densities of multiple microphone elements. Expressions for the most common three-dimensional geometric arrangements are derived. Simplified expressions for use with two channel spectrum analysers are also presented.
The significance of high-order resonances of spherical bubbles to the acoustic response of fish with swimbladders
Authors: Barr Richard , Coombs Roger F.
Published: June 2005

The high-order resonant response of spherical gas bubbles in seawater, when insonified by an acoustic pulse of 12 cycles of 38 kHz, used for target strength measurements, shows substantial variation in shape with only small changes in bubble radius. In contrast, the amplitude response of a gas bubble near its fundamental resonance changes predominantly in magnitude as the radius changes. The fundamental response is very similar to that of a more rigid target such as a tungsten carbide sphere. It might initially be thought that the high-order resonant response of spherical gas bubbles in seawater would have little relevance to the response of a gas-filled spheroidal swimbladder immersed in a viscous fish body. However, target responses similar to those predicted theoretically for gas bubbles have been found in data collected in situ for estimating target strength from normal fish populations. With further theoretical and experimental work, high-order resonances could be a useful aid to estimating target size and possibly target species.
Vortical and acoustical mode coupling inside a porous tube with uniform wall suction
Authors: Jankowski T. A. , Majdalani J.
Published: June 2005

This paper considers the oscillatory motion of gases inside a long porous tube of the closed-open type. In particular, the focus is placed on describing an analytical solution for the internal acoustico-vortical coupling that arises in the presence of appreciable wall suction. This unsteady field is driven by longitudinal oscillatory waves that are triggered by small unavoidable fluctuations in the wall suction speed. Under the assumption of small amplitude oscillations, the time-dependent governing equations are linearized through a regular perturbation of the dependent variables. Further application of the Helmholtz vector decomposition theorem enables us to discriminate between acoustical and vortical equations. After solving the wave equation for the acoustical contribution, the boundary-driven vortical field is considered. The method of matched-asymptotic expansions is then used to obtain a closed-form solution for the unsteady momentum equation developing from flow decomposition. An exact series expansion is also derived and shown to coincide with the numerical solution for the problem. The numerically verified end results suggest that the asymptotic scheme is capable of providing a sufficiently accurate solution. This is due to the error associated with the matched-asymptotic expansion being smaller than the error introduced in the Navier-Stokes linearization. A basis for comparison is established by examining the evolution of the oscillatory field in both space and time. The corresponding boundary-layer behavior is also characterized over a range of oscillation frequencies and wall suction velocities. In general, the current solution is found to exhibit features that are consistent with the laminar theory of periodic flows. By comparison to the Sexl profile in nonporous tubes, the critically damped solution obtained here exhibits a slightly smaller overshoot and depth of penetration. These features may be attributed to the suction effect that tends to attract the shear layers closer the wall.
Effects of vocalic duration and first formant offset on final voicing judgments by children and adults (L)
Authors: Jones Caroline
Published: June 2005

Developmental research into relative weighting of vocalic duration and spectral properties in final voicing perception has produced different results, depending on whether natural or synthetic speech stimuli have been used and how spectral properties have been manipulated. This paper reports developmental data for final voicing using natural stimuli waveform edited for vocalic duration and resynthesized for first formant offset. Results indicate that in perception of final voicing there are adult-child differences in weighting of vocalic duration and first formant offset, consistent with previous findings for vocalic duration and spectral properties more generally [S. Nittrouer, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 115, 1777–1790 (2004)].
A comparison of various nonlinear models of cochlear compression
Authors: Harte James M. , Elliott Stephen J. , Rice Henry J.
Published: June 2005

The vibration response of the basilar membrane in the cochlea to sinusoidal excitation displays a compressive nonlinearity, conventionally described using an input-output level curve. This displays a slope of 1 dB/dB at low levels and a slope m<1 dB/dB at higher levels. Two classes of nonlinear systems have been considered as models of this response, one class with static power-law nonlinearity and one class with level-dependent properties (using either an automatic gain control or a Van der Pol oscillator). By carefully choosing their parameters, it is shown that all models can produce level curves that are similar to those measured on the basilar membrane. The models differ, however, in their distortion properties, transient responses, and instantaneous input-output characteristics. The static nonlinearities have a single-valued instantaneous characteristic that is the same at all input levels. The level-dependent systems are multi-valued with an almost linear characteristic, for a given amplitude of excitation, whose slope varies with the excitation level. This observation suggests that historical attempts to use functional modeling (i.e., Wiener of Volterra series) may be ill founded, as these methods are unable to represent level-dependent nonlinear systems with multi-valued characteristics of this kind.