Computational methods for studying acoustic propagation in nonuniform waveguides.

Abstract

A variational technique is used to model sound transmission through a nonuniform duct segment consisting of an axial variation in wall admittance or cross sectional area. The method involves the Ritz minimization of functionals which have the governing equations as stationary conditions. The variational method is verified by application to segments of variables-separable geometry for which eigenfunction expansion techniques offer an alternative solution procedure, and by comparison with the results of stepped duct approximations to the nonuniformity. Quantitative data are presented which indicate the boundary condition matching to be a suitable measure of the accuracy of the transmitted field.