Vol 62, No 5 (2016)

In the present work as the second part of the research work on wave propagation characteristics of helically orthotropic cylindrical shells, the main aim is to use the developed solution for resonance isolation and identification of an air-filled and water submerged Graphite/Epoxy cylindrical shell and quantitative sensitivity analysis of excited resonance frequencies to the perturbation in the material’s elastic constants. The physical justifications are presented for the singular features associated with the stimulated resonance frequencies according to their style of propagation and polarization, induced stress-strain fields and wave type. For evaluation purposes, the wave propagation characteristics of the anisotropic shell and the far-field form function amplitude of a limiting case are considered and good agreement with the solutions available in the literature is established.

Acousto-optic Bragg diffraction in paratellurite is investigated within the two first diffraction orders for the case of diffraction by the sidelobes of the spatial radiation spectrum of an acoustic transducer. One of the diffraction orders is due to anisotropic diffraction, and the other, to isotropic diffraction. Such a diffraction regime is achieved when the diffraction plane is inclined toward the optical axis of the crystal. For light with a wavelength of 0.63 × 10^–4 cm diffracted by a “slow” sound wave with a frequency of 26 MHz, the effect manifests itself when the angle between the acousto-optic diffraction plane and the optical axis of paratellurite is ~3°. The effect is experimentally verified. The diffraction efficiency is 20% for each of the diffraction orders for a microwave signal of 8 V at the transducer.

We analyze the results of an experiment using an explosive sound source in the tropical part of the Indian Ocean. We consider the time structure of sound signals in geometric shadow zones to a distance of 270 km and the scheme of how the sound field in the shadow zone is formed by rays reflected from horizontally extended fine-structured sound velocity layers. From the results of calculation using a wave program that realizes the method of psuedodifferential parabolic equations, we analyze the influence of signal scattering by fine-structure sound velocity inhomogeneities on the sound field distribution in a waveguide. We show that the field formed by spots of light in each of the shadow zones is generated by a regular field and propagates in parallel to it, taking energy from the regular zone in the near field and in each subsequent convergence zone. This mechanism causes an additional decrease in the field in illuminated zones, which can be interpreted as additional attenuation of the regular sound field.

We describe an algorithm for estimating the radial component of the velocity of a sound source based on information about frequency shifts of the interference maxima of the field and consider the problem of its interference immunity. We obtain the limit estimate for the value of the input signal/noise ratio when the algorithm is working effectively. We present results of computational and field experiments using a single receiver and a horizontal array. We compare the experimental data with analytic interference immunity estimates.

We study the application of an infrasonic method to detect infrasonic acoustic emission caused by the destruction of glaciers in the Arctic. We consider the main approaches and methods for automatic signal detection from the data of infrasonic microarrays from the viewpoint of their practical use in conditions of frequent and significant variations in the noise level characteristics of the Arctic coast. We propose a novel method for the automatic detection of infrasonic events based on representation of a plane wave signal and adaptive estimation of the noise level. The method makes it possible to detect signals with a small number of sensors (up to three) in the specific conditions of the Arctic coast. We present the results of infrasonic monitoring of the destruction of Icefjord outlet glaciers (Spitsbergen archipelago) carried out by the Kola Branch of the RAS Geophysical Survey in 2011–2012.

A new method is presented for the automatic refinement of finite element models of complex mechanical–acoustic systems using the results of experimental studies. The method is based on control of the spectral characteristics via selection of the optimal distribution of adjustments to the stiffness of a finite element mesh. The results of testing the method are given to show the possibility of its use to significantly increase the simulation accuracy of vibration characteristics of bodies with arbitrary spatial configuration.

We obtain a set of equations for determining the distance from the chest surface to various sources (monopole, dipole, transverse quadrupole) of wheezing sounds in human lungs. During testing, we experimentally determined anatomically correct estimates for the distances to sources of wheezing sounds in the frequency range of 100–500 Hz. We demonstrate the possibility of resolving the distances to sources of wheezing sounds with different peak frequencies. We analyze the main limitations of the method.

We develop a theory of the elasticity moduli and dissipative properties of a composite material: a phantom simulating muscle tissue anisotropy. The model used in the experiments was made of a waterlike polymer with embedded elastic filaments imitating muscle fiber. In contrast to the earlier developed phenomenological theory of the anisotropic properties of muscle tissue, here we obtain the relationship of the moduli with characteristic sizes and moduli making up the composite. We introduce the effective elasticity moduli and viscosity tensor components, which depend on stretching of the fibers. We measure the propagation velocity of shear waves and the shear viscosity of the model for regulated tension. Waves were excited by pulsed radiation pressure generated by modulated focused ultrasound. We show that with increased stretching of fibers imitating muscle contraction, an increase in both elasticity and viscosity takes place, and this effect depends on the wave propagation direction. The results of theoretical and experimental studies support our hypothesis on the protective function of stretched skeletal muscle, which protects bones and joints from trauma.

We have previously hypothesized that the dissipation of mechanical energy of external impact is a fundamental function of skeletal muscle in addition to its primary function to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. In this paper, a mathematical justification of this hypothesis is presented. First, a simple mechanical model, in which the muscle is considered as a simple Hookean spring, is considered. This analysis serves as an introduction to the consideration of a biomechanical model taking into account the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction, kinetics of myosin bridges, sarcomere dynamics, and tension of muscle fibers. It is shown that a muscle behaves like a nonlinear and adaptive spring tempering the force of impact and increasing the duration of the collision. The temporal profiles of muscle reaction to the impact as functions of the levels of muscle contraction, durations of the impact front, and the time constants of myosin bridges closing, are obtained. The absorption of mechanical shock energy is achieved due to the increased viscoelasticity of the contracting skeletal muscle. Controlling the contraction level allows for the optimization of the stiffness and viscosity of the muscle necessary for the protection of the joints and bones.

The instrument function of a broadband (1.6–2.5 MHz) detector that is used in acoustic thermometry has been calculated. Experimental tests have proved that measured and computed results are in agreement. The effect of the pass band characteristics and the detector’s dimension on the instrument function has been studied as well as the effect that the instrument function has on an acoustic thermometric signal that is measured by the detector. The ratio of the wavelength (for the mean reception frequency) to the detector’s radius has been shown to be the main parameter that determines the acoustic thermometric signal at distances that are typical of acoustic thermometry. For problems of localizing a heated domain, it is optimal to locate the receiver at a distance of 15–25 mm from the domain. For example, for a detector 8 mm in diameter, the width of the instrument function at a level of 0.5 of the maximum is 1.2 ± 0.1 mm in this zone.

The paper considers the problem of drilling the regolith of the Moon’s South Pole: the influence of water ice on the elastic properties of the regolith and the movement of an ultrasound penetrative device in a dispersion medium. It is shown that low-frequency vibration action can aid in controlling the viscosity of dispersion systems. The hydrodynamics of the penetrative device’s movement in a dispersion medium is calculated. Estimates are made for the drilling speed at different depths and drilling conditions to ensure the retention of volatile regolith components.