Transient response of volumetric sources and line array systems

Abstract

An impulse response approach to evaluate the transient response of volumetric sources and line arrays with beamformers is presented. A spatially and time‐dependent impulse response function resulting from either a continuous or discrete distribution of sources with amplitude shading and arbitrary time delays is defined. The transient pressure at a field point is then obtained by convolving the time derivative of the impulse response with an excitation waveform. The characteristics of the impulse response for discrete steered and/or focused line array systems are first presented and related to the geometry of the array and beamformer. The characteristics of the impulse response for continuous line arrays or volumetric sources with spatially dependent amplitude and initial excitation times are then presented and related to the geometry of the source, speed of propagation within the array and media, and the location of the field point. Several applications and numerical results for volumetric sources and line array systems are presented.