Exact solution to the problem of acoustic wave propagation in a semi-infinite waveguide with flexible walls

Abstract

Two boundary value problems for the Helmholtz equation in a semi-infinite strip are considered. The main feature of these problems is that, in addition to the function and its normal derivative on the boundary, the functionals of the boundary conditions possess tangential derivatives of the second and fourth orders. Also, the setting of the problems is complemented by certain edge conditions at the two vertices of the semi-strip. The problems model wave propagation in a semi-infinite waveguide with membrane and plate walls. A technique for the exact solution of these fluid–structure interaction problems is proposed. It requires application of two Laplace transforms with respect to both variables. The parameter of the second transform is a certain function of the first Laplace transform parameter. Ultimately, this method yields two scalar Riemann–Hilbert problems with the same coefficient and different right-hand sides. The dependence of the existence and uniqueness results of the physical model problems on the index of the Riemann–Hilbert problem is discussed, and numerical results for the membrane walls model are reported.