Sound wave propagation in composite slow waveguides.

Abstract

The composite slow waveguide is an underwater acoustic slow waveguide and has a double-layered structure consisting of an inner core cylinder and a surrounding outer annular cylinder. This slow waveguide works as an end-fire radiator when operated with a point source attached on its end. In this paper, a theoretical study on propagation of sound waves along the composite slow waveguide is performed. The phase velocity, cutoff wave number, sound pressure distribution and acoustic power are obtained in dependence on parameters pertaining to the composite system. A new propagation phenomenon which is not obtainable in usual single-structured slow waveguides is described. The limiting case of the composite slow waveguide-a thin-layered composite slow waveguide-is also discussed.