2.5D AND 3D GREEN'S FUNCTIONS FOR ACOUSTIC WEDGES: IMAGE SOURCE TECHNIQUE VERSUS A NORMAL MODE APPROACH

Abstract

2.5D and 3D Green's functions are implemented to simulate wave propagation in the vicinity of two-dimensional wedges. All Green's functions are defined by the image-source technique, which does not account directly for the acoustic penetration of the wedge surfaces. The performance of these Green's functions is compared with solutions based on a normal mode model, which are found not to converge easily for receivers whose distance to the apex is similar to the distance from the source to the apex. The applicability of the image source Green's functions is then demonstrated by means of computational examples for three-dimensional wave propagation. For this purpose, a boundary element formulation in the frequency domain is developed to simulate the wave field produced by a 3D point pressure source inside a two-dimensional fluid channel. The propagating domain may couple different dipping wedges and flat horizontal layers. The full discretization of the boundary surfaces of the channel is avoided since 2.5D Green's functions are used. The BEM is used to couple the different subdomains, discretizing only the vertical interfaces between them.