Acoustic resonance scattering from a submerged anisotropic sphere

Abstract

The resonance scattering theory (RST) is applied to the problem of sound scattering from an elastic transversely isotropic solid sphere suspended in an ideal acoustic fluid medium. The normal mode expansion technique in conjunction with the Frobenius power series solution method is utilized to deal with the material anisotropy. The presented model, which degenerates to the simple isotropic solution in the case of very weak anisotropy, is initially employed to study sensitivity of various resonant modes of vibration to perturbations in elements of the stiffness matrix. Employing a rigid background subtraction, the target’s spectrum of resonances is extracted from the relevant modal backscattering form functions and subsequently traced and discussed through Regge pole trajectory plots. Also, the backscattering form function and resonance spectra, along with the dispersion curves for selected transversely isotropic solid spheres with distinct degrees of material anisotropy, are calculated and discussed. The various modes of propagation associated with the Rayleigh, Whispering Gallery, and fluid-borne Scholte-Stoneley surface waves are identified and examined.