Sound propagation over concave surfaces

Diffraction of sound by concave surfaces is investigated theoretically and experimentally. In an earlier study [J. Acoust. Sec. Am. 104, 2683-2691 (1998)], it has been demonstrated that a rigorous analogy exists for the sound field above a convex circular cylinder in an otherwise homogeneous medium. The predicted sound field corresponds to the situation where the sound speed of the medium decreases exponentially with height. Extending the previous work, this paper investigates of the sound field above a concave surface and explores the corresponding analogy. Normal mode solutions have been developed for a downward refracting medium with an exponential sound speed profile. The solutions are used to predict the sound fields diffracted by a cylindrical concave surface. A series of laboratory experiments is conducted using point monopole, horizontal dipole, and vertical dipole sources over cylindrical concave surfaces. The experimental measurements are compared with the normal mode predictions. For monopole and horizontal dipole sources, good agreement has been found between measurements and the normal mode predictions using an exponential profile. However, the agreement is less satisfactory where the sound field was due to vertical dipole sources. (C) 1999 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(99)05411-9].