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The Propagation of Sound in Composite Media

The document discusses the propagation of sound in composite media, presenting a theory for the propagation constant in media with small spherical particles. Experimental results show that measured phase velocities align with theoretical predictions, and applications for measuring acoustic parameters of liquids are suggested. Additionally, the document explores the discriminability of interaural phase relations in complex sounds and the effects of sound propagation in a 'long corridor' setup.

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15 views2 pages

The Propagation of Sound in Composite Media

The document discusses the propagation of sound in composite media, presenting a theory for the propagation constant in media with small spherical particles. Experimental results show that measured phase velocities align with theoretical predictions, and applications for measuring acoustic parameters of liquids are suggested. Additionally, the document explores the discriminability of interaural phase relations in complex sounds and the effects of sound propagation in a 'long corridor' setup.

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geshuo519
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© © All Rights Reserved
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JANUARY 01 1949

The Propagation of Sound in Composite Media 


R. J. Urick; W. S. Ament

J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 21, 62 (1949)


https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1917064

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14 September 2024 04:27:55


62 ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

the field produced by an arbitrary excitation in terms of been obtained for frequenciesbelow 100 cycles, showing
the natural modes is also discussed.Experimental results the discontinuous nature of the "reverberation" which is
are presentedfor cases(2) and (4) above. It is shown that producedin such a "long corridor." Eyring's mechanism,
the measured values of phase velocity are in agreement usingimage sources,is shownto fail to explain the oscillo-
with thosepredicted by the theory. Applications of liquid- grams. A new mechanismis presentedwhich seemsto ex-
filled tube transmissionare suggestedfor measuringacous- plain all cases,including that of non-normal modes.
tical parameters of liquids, such as those of interest in
underwater sound. For this purpose the pressure-release 50. Application of Activated Ceramics to Transducers.
boundary condition appears particularly suitable, espe- H. W. Ko•v.•, $onotoneCorporation,Elmsford,New York
cially at the higher frequencies. (10 min. ).--The conditions under which titanate ceramics
may be made to have piezoelectricpropertiessuitable for
48. The Discriminability of Interaural Phase Relations application to transducersare described.These conditions
In Two-Component Tones.* J. C. R. Liere. ruER, Psycho.. involve a selectionof the titanate material to give a Curie
AcousticLaboratory, Harvard University, point well above the working temperature, polarization
ST•.R,Navy ElectronicsLaboratory,San Diego, California from an external voltage source within certain limits of
(10 min. ).--Previous experiments have shown that the potential gradient and time duration, and mechanical
subjective sound and location of a low frequency tone structure. Most common transducers have a mechanical
dependto a considerableextent upon whether the sound impedance far below that of a solid block of ceramic.
waves arrive at the two ears in phase or out of phase. For Multilamellar strips have been developed to provide the
pure tones of high frequency, however, the interaural mechanical impedancerequired in a phonographpick-up,
phaserelation appearsnot to be an important factor. The microphone, or the like. These consist, in general, of a
question is, do these statements hold also for complex metal strip with a thin plate of ceramic solderedto one
sounds?In particular, is the binaural mechanismentirely side or with thin plates soldered to both sides. As the
"phase deaf" at high frequency?Using the simplestof multilamellar strip cools below the solidificationpoint of
complexsounds--twosuperposed sinusoidsof equal ampli- the solder,the ceramicbecomes pre-stressedin compression.
tudes-we have exploredthis questionby determiningthe This strip is then used in flexure in a transducer. It has

14 September 2024 04:27:55


frequency limits within which changesin interaural phase many unique properties, especially for applications in-
relations give rise to changesin auditory experience.We volving extreme conditions of humidity. Applications of
find that if the frequencyof either of the two sinusoldsis this strip for a phonographpick-up and to a microphone
below 1400 c.p.s., reversing the phase of that component are shown. Precautionsinvolved in controlling production
in one ear producesa changein the subjectivesound. If of a pick-up are discussed.
both of the sinusoldsare above 1400 c.p.s., a similar re-
versal of one of them is discriminable under either of two
51. The Propagation of Sound in CompositeMedia.
conditions: (1) if the two sinusoidsare close enough to- R. J. Uvac•cx•) W. S. AMv.•T, Naval ResearchLaboratory,
getherin frequencyfor beatsor roughness
to arise; (2) if Washington,D.C. (10 min.).--A theory is outlinedfor the
the subjective difference tone is audible and below 1400 propagationconstantin media containingnumeroussmall
c.p.s. With a frequency differenceof less than 10 or 15 sphericalparticles.Using expressions derivedby Lamb for
c.p.s.the subjectivesoundceasesto beat in the centerof the zeroth- and first-order scattering coefficientsof a
the head and starts to move back and forth from one ear
particle free to move in a sound field, an expressionfor
to the other when the interaural phase differenceof one the complex propagationconstant is derived whose real
of the two sinusolds is switched from 0 to 180 degress. part yields a velocity which reducesto the homogeneous
With higher frequency differences,the subjective change case• for extremely small particles, and whoseimaginary
is from a rough or beating complex in the center of the part yields an absorption coefficientidentical with that
head to two rough or beating complexes,one at either ear. derivable from the viscous-dragtheory outlined in a pre-
These observationsindicate that, even at high frequency, vious paper.• Using both an interferometerand a pulse-
interaural phaserelationsplay somerole in the localization reflection method, measurementsof sound velocity and
of complexsounds,even though they may not provide a absorptionat megacyclefrequencieshave been made on
basis for the localization of pure tones. mercury-in-waterand bromoform-in-wateremulsionsof
* This experiment was carried out at the Navy Electronics Labora- non-uniformparticle size, up to a volume concentration
tory, San Diego, California.
of about 50 percentof emulsifiedliquid. Thesematerials,
thoughshowing
considera•ble
deviation
froma homogene-
49. The Discontinuous Growth and Decay of Sound in ous behavior, are found to have a velocity and absorption
a "Long Corridor." HARRYB. MILLER, The Brush Develop- in goodagreementwith the theory up to a concentration
ment Company, Cleveland,Ohio (10 min.) .--The "long of about 25 percent by volume. Similar measurementson
corridor" referred to is actually a mechanicaltransmission suspensions of quartz sand in water exhibit small devia-
line in the form of a helical springßCompressionalwaves tions of velocity from the theory that may possiblybe
in the audiofrequencyrangeare sent down the springby an attributed to the non-spherical shape of the ouartz
electromechanicaldriver and received at the far end by an particles.
ß
electromechamcalpick-up. Reflection occursat each termi- • R. J. Urick, J. Acous. Soc. Am. 18, 983 (1947).
nal allowingstandingwavesto build up. Oscillogramshave • R. J. Urick, J. Acous.Soc. Am. 20, 283 (1948).

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