Acoustic impedances

FondamentalCalculate the acoustic impedance

Consider a harmonic progressive plane sound wave (HPPSW) propagating in ascending order \(x>0\).

The speed and pressure may be written :

\(\underline v =A\;exp(j(\omega t-kx))\)

And :

\(\underline p=B\;exp(j(\omega t-kx))\)

With the dispersion relation :

\(k=\frac{\omega}{c}\)

Where \(c\) is the speed of sound waves.

The following equation (see course sheet on sound waves) :

\(\frac{{\partial p}}{{\partial t}} = - \frac{1}{{\chi _S }}div(\vec v)=- \frac{1}{{\chi _S }}\frac{\partial v}{\partial x}\)

allows to determine a relation between the speed and the acoustic pressure.

Indeed :

\(j\omega \underline p=- \frac{1}{{\chi _S }}(-jk)\underline v\)

Is :

\(\underline p =  \frac{1}{{c\chi _S }}\underline v=\mu_0 c \;\underline v\)

AttentionDefinition of the acoustic impedance

  • For HPPSW moving in the direction of \(x>0\) :

    \(\underline p = z\underline v\)

    With :

    \(z=\mu_0 c\)

    \(z\) is called acoustic impedance.

  • For HPPSW moving in the direction of \(x<0\) :

    \(\underline p = -z\underline v\)

RemarqueOther definition of acoustic impedance

The acoustic impedance can be defined according to :

\(\underline p = Z (S\underline v)\)

Where \(S\) is the cross section of the sound conduct.

This definition is similar to that of the electric resistance : the flow rate \(Sv\) is comparable to the electrical current (charge flow rate).

The acoustic impedance is defined as :

\(Z=\frac{\mu_0c}{S}=\frac{z}{S}\)

See also the lesson about "Thermal resistance".