Sound propagation above an inhomogeneous plane: Boundary integral equation methods

Abstract

A boundary integral equation method is used to compute the sound pressure emitted by a harmonic source above an inhomogeneous plane. First, the theoretical aspects of the problem (behaviour of the pressure around the discontinuities,…) are studied. Then, a comparison between theoretical levels and experimental levels obtained in an anechoic room is presented. It shows that the boundary integral equation (BIE) method is quite convenient for solving this kind of problem. Two interesting results are pointed out: (i) if only a prediction of maximum sound levels is needed, the attenuation is the same for a cylindrical source, a spherical source and N spherical sources, and so it is possible to transform some three-dimensional problems into two-dimensional ones; (ii) a numerical method of computation of the sound field above an inhomogeneous plane does not provide a correct prediction if each part of the plane is not accurately described by the boundary condition chosen.