Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Acoustic Wave Equations for a Linear Viscous Fluid and An Ideal Fluid

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/801378· OSTI ID:801378

The mathematical description of acoustic wave propagation within a time- and space-varying, and moving, linear viscous fluid is formulated as a system of coupled linear equations. This system is rigorously developed from fundamental principles of continuum mechanics (conservation of mass, balance of linear and angular momentum, balance of entropy) and various constitutive relations (for stress, entropy production, and entropy conduction) by linearizing all expressions with respect to the small-amplitude acoustic wavefield variables. A significant simplification arises if the fluid medium is neither viscous nor heat conducting (i.e., an ideal fluid). In this case the mathematical system can be reduced to a set of five, coupled, first-order partial differential equations. Coefficients in the systems depend on various mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the ambient medium that supports acoustic wave propagation. These material properties cannot all be arbitrarily specified, but must satisfy another system of nonlinear expressions characterizing the dynamic behavior of the background medium. Dramatic simplifications in both systems occur if the ambient medium is simultaneously adiabatic and stationary.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (US); Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
801378
Report Number(s):
SAND2002-2060
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Dynamics of a cylindrical shell system coupled by viscous fluid
Conference · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1975 · OSTI ID:7228159

Dynamics of a cylindrical shell system coupled by viscous fluid
Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Acoust. Soc. Am.; (United States) · OSTI ID:7100851

A numerical simulation of the acoustic and elastic wavefields radiated by a source on a fluid-filled borehole embedded in a layered medium
Journal Article · Wed Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Geophysics; (United States) · OSTI ID:5930947