Abstract This paper presents a new method of signal processing for vibro-acoustic modulation (VAM) methods in order to detect damage accumulation in steel samples. Damage in the tested samples was produced by cycle loading, which, with a small amplitude, was used as a pump wave to modulate an ultrasonic probe wave. Multiple sideband peaks were observed, which were used to characterize the modulation effect. We propose the effectiveness sideband peak number (SPN) method as an indicator of any damage accumulation when the load cycle is applied. Moreover, after comparing the SPN with the previously used modulation index (MI), we concluded that, for some of the samples, the SPN provided better damage indication than the MI. The presented results can be explained by a simple model of bilinear crack nonlinearity. This model demonstrates that the amplitude dependences of the sideband components on the pump and the probe wave amplitudes are very different from the quadratic crack model that is usually used for MI test explanation.

Abstract : Partition of unity finite element method with plane wave enrichment (PW-FEM) uses a shape function with a set of plane waves propagating in various directions. For room acoustic simulations in a frequency domain, PW-FEM can be an efficient wave-based prediction method, but its practical applications and especially its robustness must be studied further. This study elucidates PW-FEM robustness via 2D real-scale office room problems including rib-type acoustic diffusers. We also demonstrate PW-FEM performance using a sparse direct solver and a high-order Gauss–Legendre rule with a recently developed rule for ascertaining the number of integration points against the classical linear and quadratic FEMs. Numerical experiments investigating mesh size and room geometrical complexity effects on the robustness of PW-FEM demonstrated that PW-FEM becomes more robust at wide bands when using a mesh in which the maximum element size maintains a comparable value to the wavelength of the upper-limit frequency. Moreover, PW-FEM becomes unstable with lower spatial resolution mesh, especially for rooms with complex shape. Comparisons of accuracies and computational costs of linear and quadratic FEM revealed that PW-FEM requires twice the computational time of the quadratic FEM with a mesh having spatial resolution of six elements per wavelength, but it is highly accurate at wide bands with lower memory and with markedly fewer degrees of freedom. As an additional benefit of PW-FEM, the impulse response waveform of quadratic FEM in a time domain was found to deteriorate over time, but the PW-FEM waveform can maintain accurate waveforms over a long time

Abstract : Enhanced approximate expressions for the incipient indicial lift of thin wings in subsonic potential flow are presented in this study, featuring explicit analytical corrections for the unsteady downwash. Lifting-line and acoustic-wave theories form the basis of the method, within an effective synthesis of the governing physics, which grants a consistent generalised framework and unifies previous works. The unsteady flow perturbation consists of a step-change in angle of attack or a vertical sharp-edged gust. The proposed model is successfully evaluated against numerical results in the literature for the initial airload development of elliptical and rectangular wings with a symmetric aerofoil, considering several aspect ratios and Mach numbers. While nonlinear downwash and compressibility terms demonstrate marginal (especially for the case of a travelling gust), both linear and nonlinear geometrical effects from a significant taper ratio, sweep angle or curved leadingedge are found to be more important than linear downwash corrections (which are crucial for the circulation growth at later times instead, along with linear compressibility corrections). The present formulae may then be used as a rigorous reduced-order model for validating higher-fidelity tools and complex simulations in industrial practice, as well as for estimating parametric sensitivities of unsteady aerodynamic loads within the preliminary design of aircraft wings in the subsonic regime.

Abstract The quality of the acoustic environments at Xi’an Jiatong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and Soochow University (Dushuhu Campus, SUDC) in Suzhou City were investigated in the present work through real-time noise level measurements and questionnaire surveys. Before commencing the measurements and surveys, these two campuses’ sound sources were summarized and classified into four categories through on-site observation: human-made, machinery, living creatures, and natural physical sounds. For the zones near the main traffic road, with a high volume of crowds and surrounded by a park, sound from road vehicles, humans talking, and birds/insects were selected by the interviewees as the major sound sources, respectively. Only zone 3 (near to a park) at XJTLU could be classified as A zone (noise level < 55 dBA) with an excellent quality acoustical environment. All other zones had either good or average quality acoustical environments, except zone 1 (near to main traffic road) at XJTLU, with a fair-quality acoustical environment.

Abstract String instruments are complex mechanical vibrating systems, in terms of both structure and fluid–structure interaction. Here, a review study of the modeling and simulation of stringed musical instruments via the finite element method (FEM) is presented. The paper is focused on the methods capable of simulating (I) the soundboard behavior in bowed, plucked and hammered string musical instruments; (II) the assembled musical instrument box behavior in bowed and plucked instruments; (III) the fluid–structure interaction of assembled musical instruments; and (IV) the interaction of a musical instrument’s resonance box with the surrounding air. Due to the complexity and the high computational demands, a numerical model including all the parts and the full geometry of the instrument resonance box, the fluid–structure interaction and the interaction with the surrounding air has not yet been simulated.

Abstract Ultrasonic testing of polycrystalline media relies heavily on simulation of the expected signals in order to detect and correctly interpret deviations due to defects. Many effects disturb ultrasonic waves propagating in polycrystalline media. One of them is scattering due to the granular microstructure of the polycrystal. The thus arising so-called microstructural noise changes with grain size distribution and testing frequency. Here, a method for simulating this noise is introduced. We geometrically model the granular microstructure to determine its influence on the backscattered ultrasonic signal. To this end, we utilize Laguerre tessellations generated by random sphere packings dividing space into convex polytopes—the cells. The cells represent grains in a real polycrystal. Cells are characterized by their volume and act as single scatterers. We compute scattering coefficients cellwise by the Born approximation. We then combine the Generalized Point Source Superposition technique with the backscattered contributions resulting from the cell structure to compute the backscattered ultrasonic signal. Applying this new methodology, we compute the backscattered signals in a pulse-echo experiment for a coarse grain cubic crystallized Inconel-617 and a fine grain hexagonal crystallized titanium. Fitting random Laguerre tessellations to the observed grain structure allows for simulating within multiple realizations of the proposed model and thus to study the variation of the backscattered signal due to microstructural variation.

Abstract Based on the Navier–Stokes equation for compressible media, this work studies the acoustic properties of a human cochlear model, in which the scala vestibuli and scala tympani are filled with compressible perilymph. Since the sound waves propagate as a compression wave in perilymph, this model can precisely handle the wave–based phenomena. Time domain analysis showed that a sound wave (fast wave) first propagates in the scala vestibuli and scala tympani, and then, a traveling wave (slow wave) is generated by the sound wave with some delay. Detailed studies based on even and odd mode analysis indicate that an odd mode sound wave, that is, the difference in the sound pressures between the scala vestibuli and scala tympani, excites the Békésy’s traveling wave, while an even mode sound determines the input impedance of the cochlea.

Abstract This paper presents an experimental study on acoustic attenuation of different types of face masks in use by the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, measurements are performed on ten samples of masks, of which four are medical masks, three are respirators, and three are community masks. Breathability and Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) tests, in compliance to the standard characterization process of medical masks, are also carried out. The porosity on each layer composing the masks is measured by processing their scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The analysis of the results aims to establish if acoustic attenuation is correlated to any of these parameters. It emerges that porosity and breathability are strongly correlated to acoustic attenuation, while bacterial filtration efficiency is not.

Abstract Although voiced speech signals are physical signals which are approximately harmonic and electric power signals are true harmonic, the algorithms used for harmonic analysis in electric power systems can be successfully used in speech processing, including in speech enhancement, noise reduction, speaker recognition, and hearing aids. The discrete Fourier transform (DFT), which has been widely used as a phasor estimator due to its simplicity, has led to the development of new DFT-based algorithms because of its poor performance under dynamic conditions. The multiple resonator (MR) filter structure proposed in previous papers has proven to be a suitable approach to dynamic harmonic analysis. In this article, optimized postprocessing compensation filters are applied to obtain frequency responses of the transfer functions convenient for fast measurements in dynamic conditions. An optimization design method based on the constrained linear least-squares (CLLS) is applied. This way, both the flatness in the passband and the equiripple attenuation in the stopband are satisfied simultaneously, and the latency is reduced.

Abstract Damage detection of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is becoming a more attractive domain due to the safety issues arising in the last few decades. The damage in concrete can be caused by excessive exploitation of the structure or environmental effects. The cracks in concrete can be detected by different nondestructive testing methods. However, the available methods used for this purpose have numerous limitations. The technologies available in the market nowadays have difficulties detecting slowly progressive, locally limited damage. In addition, some of these methods cannot be applied, especially in hard-to-reach areas in the superstructures. In order to avoid these deficiencies, an embedded ultrasonic methodology can be used to detect cracks in RC structures. In this study, the methodology of crack detection supported with the advanced signal processing algorithm was proposed and verified on RC structures of various types, and cracks occurring between embedded sensors can be detected. Moreover, different pairs of ultrasonic sensors located in the considered structures are used for the analysis of the sensitivity of distance between them. It is shown that the ultrasonic sensors placed in the range of 1.5–2 m can detect cracks, even when the other methods failed to detect changes in the structure. The obtained results confirmed that diffuse ultrasonic sensor methodology is able to monitor real structures more effectively than traditional techniques.