Investigation of a high intensity sound beam from a plane transducer. Experimental and theoretical results

Abstract

Results of a systematic investigation of a high intensity sound beam from a plane circular transducer are presented for a large range of excitation levels. The ratio of the shock formation distance to the Rayleigh distance ranges from 1.7 to 0.06. A detailed description of the experimental setup is given. Problems encountered when calibrating highly intense and highly directive sound sources are discussed, and a novel method of calibration is proposed. Experimental results for the case of cw excitation are presented and compared with a simulation using the Bergen Code, thus allowing to assert the usefulness of the model (Khokhlov–Zabolotskaya–Kuznetsov equation) and of the numerical algorithm (spectral decomposition and finite difference method of the transformed beam equation) for high intensity sound beams. A new effect, nonlinear defocusing of the beam, is uncovered.