Fernand Léon

Scattering of an obliquely incident acoustic wave by an infinite hollow cylindrical shell

Acoustic scattering from an isotropic elastic hollow cylindrical shell of infinite length excited by an obliquely incident plane acoustic wave is investigated. The form functions of an aluminum cylindrical shell immersed in water have been calculated by the direct summation of the Rayleigh series. Computations are made at angles (with the normal to the cylinder axis) between α=0° and α=35°. The results of the theoretical calculation are in good agreement with the results of experiments. The experimental results have shown in a frequency range of k1a=0 –20 that the resonances are related to three wave families: the circumferential wave (l=2) detected for angles smaller than the ‘‘angle of longitudinal wave in thin rods’’ (αl), the guided wave (p=1) detected for angles smaller than the second critical angle (αT), and the Scholte–Stoneley wave (l=0). The evolution of the resonance frequencies is followed for different angles and one can note experimentally, that at an angle superior to the Rayleigh critical ...

Modal theory applied to the acoustic scattering by elastic cylinders of arbitrary cross section

A modal theory is developed for investigating the acoustic scattering by elastic cylinders of arbitrary cross section immersed in a fluid. Numerical results are presented for a plane wave incidence normal to the axis of an elliptical cylinder but arbitrary with respect to the noncircular cross section. Experimental results are obtained for an aluminum elliptical cylinder with the use of an impulse method. Comparisons between theoretical and experimental data are performed in the broad frequency range 8.5⩽ka⩽30 (k is the wave number in the fluid and a the major axis radius of the elliptic cylinder). The experimental observations are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Experimental identification of finite cylindrical shell vibration modes

Acoustic scattering from a finite air-filled elastic cylindrical shell, immersed in water, is investigated. The shell is made of stainless steel and has a thickness to outer radius ratio of 17%. The considered dimensionless frequency range extends over 7 << k1a << 22 (k1: wave number in water, a: outer radius). Bistatic measurements are carried out to identify vibration modes related to the phase matching of the first guided wave, T0, propagating on the shell. Both transducers, the emitter and the receiver, are positioned at the same angular distance with regard to the normal axis of the shell. The emitter transducer is fixed at a given position. In order to identify circumferential modes of vibration, the receiver transducer is made to rotate in the azimuthal plane, normal to the shell axis. Results obtained are plotted in functions of dimensionless frequency and azimuthal angle. Vibration modes along the shells length are identified by moving the receiver transducer parallel to the shell axis. In this case, results are plotted in functions of dimensionless frequency and axial wave number. The experimental investigation is corroborated by theoretical results obtained from approximate calculations for thick finite cylindrical shells [Scot F. Morse et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 785-794 (1998)]. The evolution of the mode position with respect to the incidence angle is discussed so as to clarify peak patterns in backscattered resonance spectra.

Acoustic scattering by a metallic tube with a concentric solid polymer cylinder coupled by a thin water layer. Influence of the thickness of the water layer on the two Scholte–Stoneley waves

The problem of a plane acoustic wave scattered by a layered cylinder submerged in water is considered. This cylinder consists of a tube made of aluminum with a solid Lucite cylinder concentrically fitt inside it. These two components are coupled by a thin layer of water. A particular investigation is made on the influence of the thickness of the water layer on the presence of the bending wave A on the tube and the Scholte–Stoneley wave on the cylinder. The presence of these waves is examined in the function of the varying water layer thickness: two special cases are discussed. First, for a layer thickness greater than the tube thickness, it is shown that both the A wave on the aluminum tube and the Scholte–Stoneley wave on the Lucite cylinder are generated. Second, for a thickness much smaller than the tube thickness, a different wave is generated, which is a combination of both waves. These two cases are experimentally verified in a setup that employs a short pulse method.

Acoustic radiation of a submerged cylindrical shell in low frequency

The evaluation of sound pressure levels produced by submerged structures is a part of regulations on underwater noise pollution. The purpose of this work is the study of the underwater acoustic radiation of a stainless steel tube subjected to vibrations generated by a shock obtained by using a hammer. The vibrations of the tube, placed successively in air and in water, are measured by using accelerometers. In water, the acoustic radiation measurements are performed by using a hydrophone. Results are presented as frequency spectra and are confronted with results of the elastic theory.

Edge resonance in semi-infinite thick pipe: Numerical predictions and measurements

This paper presents theoretical and experimental studies of axisymmetric longitudinal guided wave L(0,2) interaction with the free edge of the pipe. A numerical method based on normal mode superposition is applied to predict the edge resonance by an analysis of dispersion relations of separate modes. In parallel, the finite element analysis and experimental measurements prove the existence of edge resonance in the pipe in case of L(0,2) wave incidence. It is shown that the edge resonance is mainly caused by the first pair of complex modes. Additionally the behavior of edge resonance phenomenon as a function of the curvature of the pipe is studied. The displacement amplitudes measured at the edge demonstrate that the edge resonance is affected by the frequency and thickness to midradius ratio of the pipe, and it is losing its strength in thicker pipes, as the growing difference between the outer and inner radii destroys symmetry. The reflected energy amplitudes show that at the resonance frequencies the incident wave is strongly converted to L(0,1) and L(0,3) modes, depending also on the curvature parameter of the pipe.

Acoustic scattering from a finite plate: Generation of guided Lamb waves S0, A0 and A

In the domain of renewable energies, marine current turbines constitute one of the possibilities of producing electrical energy. Naked-eye inspection, or with the aid of video monitoring systems of these machines to ensure their perfect working order, can be difficult in a turbid environment. Acoustic methods are conceivable. The study focuses on the blades of these machines, by considering rectangular plates. The propagation of Lamb waves in a plate is studied by analyzing experimental time signals obtained from acoustic scattering. These signals are analyzed employing the ray theory. In vacuum, the flexural wave is the A(0) Lamb wave, whilst in water this wave splits in a bifurcation: the A wave with a phase velocity always smaller than the sound speed in water, and the A(0) wave with a phase velocity always higher than the sound speed in water. In the central bandpass of the transducers used in the experiments, mainly the A and S(0) waves exist. However, signals observed in the third harmonic bandpass of the transducers are also analyzed. In order to complement these results, resonance frequencies of the plate studied are calculated taking into account the boundary conditions and compared with the resonance frequencies of the experimental spectra.

Maxima and minima of the displacement components for the Lamb modes

This paper revisits the vanishing of the transverse component of the particle displacement vector in free surfaces of an isotropic homogeneous plate, for both symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb waves. Drawing on well-known analytical expressions from Viktorovs book [(1967) Rayleigh and Lamb Waves: Physical Theory Applications, Chap. II, pp. 67-121], two distinct frequency-thickness product expressions, in cases where this vanishing occurs, are derived: one for the symmetric modes and another for the antisymmetric modes. At these frequency-thickness products, phase and group velocities have appreciable values which are discussed herein. It appears that these velocities depend on the transverse bulk wave velocity only. This is the specific condition of the Lamé modes. Moreover, theoretical and experimental investigations of displacements in the surface of a plate in air have been carried out. The theoretical part shows that the normal and transverse displacements have, respectively, a local maximum and a local minimum in the vicinity of these frequency-thickness products. The experimental part corroborates the presence of the local maximum of the S(0) Lamb mode for various materials.

Influence of the incidence angle on the scattering by a circular cylindrical shell

The resonance scattering theory (RST) developed by Flax et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 723–731 (1978)] allows one to explain the structure of the spectra at scattering by a cylindrical shell at normal incidence. The resonances are related to the circumferential waves propagating around the shell. In this presentation, the problem of scattering of an obliquely incident plane acoustic wave by a circular cylindrical shell is considered. The resonance spectra obtained by the MIIR ‘‘in propagation’’ show resonance peaks related to the A, S0, T0, and T1 waves. The wide deep dips observed on the reflection spectra are particularly analyzed using the calculation of modal resonance components. These dips are attributed to a wave with modal resonance components having a small Q factor and situated sufficiently near each other with an important overlap. The position of dips depends on the incidence angle. With incidence angles larger than the second critical angle, resonance peaks are clearly observed on the reflec...

Acoustic scattering from a circular cylindrical shell excited by a short pulse in oblique incidence: Helical waves

The theoretical and experimental spectra, obtained from an infinite pipe insonified with a plane wave in oblique incidence, show resonances which are related to three types of helical waves: the circumferential waves (Ai or Si waves), the transversal guided waves (Ti waves), and the Scholte wave (A wave). The resonances of the Scholte wave are detected in a frequency window and their frequency slowly increases when the incidence angle increases, whereas the ones of the other waves increase towards infinity when the incidence angle tends towards the transversal critical angle. At oblique incidence, the experimental results obtained with the MIIR show resonances which are related to the helical waves S0, T0, T1, and A. This method uses a long pulse with many sinusoid periods, a steady state takes place in a part of the infinite shell. In this presentation, the excitation is a short pulse and the scattered echoes are detected when the helical wave emission is in front of the receiver. Between each echo, the ...