Diffraction simulation from wedges to finite-sized plates based on the physical theory of diffraction

Abstract

Efficient predictions of sound diffraction around objects are of critical significance in room-acoustic simulations. An advanced diffraction theory has recently been investigated for potential applications in room acoustics for some semi-infinite, canonical wedges and for finite-sized rectangular plates [Rozynova and Xiang, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 144 (to be published)]. The physical theory of diffraction (PTD) still relies on both geometrical and physical principles, yet emphasizes the physical one. Important features of the PTD approach are its computational efficiency and the high degree of accuracy for the diffracted sound field. This paper reviews the fringe field predictions of canonical semi-infinite wedges and further discusses solutions of diffraction problems on finite, rigid rectangular plates. The PTD is applied to approximate the solutions of a finite-sized, rigid rectangular plate that achieves high numerical efficiency. The PTD simulation allows sound diffraction contributions to be determined independently from two pairs of edges of the rigid plate, while ignoring the edge waves around the corner in far-field. This paper uses numerical implementations of the PTD predictions to demonstrate the simulation efficiency of the PTD in finite-sized objects. The numerical simulations are also validated by some preliminary experimental results carried out using an acoustic goniometer.