arXiv subjects

I. David Abrahams

Publications and source records attributed to I. David Abrahams.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Generalized causality constraint based on duality symmetry reveals untapped potential of sound absorption

Causality constraints are known to bind sound absorption to a limit that can only be achieved by optimizing the system bandwidth for a specific material thickness. This limit is defined on the assumption of a one-port system, generally causing duality symmetry to be overlooked. Here, we define a generalized causality constraint of sound absorption by investigating reflection and transmission of a two-port hybrid monopole-dipole resonator. With our theory, we show that the absorption limit is approached by relying on the well-established critical coupling as well as by matching effective compressibility and density. We experimentally show that the designed resonator absorbance follows the duality symmetry condition embodied in the large bandwidth reported. A comparison with a traditional foam liner and other competitive works further validates our findings, confirming an intrinsic connection between duality symmetry and scattering causality. Our results untap unexplored absorption potential in broadband acoustic metamaterials.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Designing Band Gaps with Randomly Distributed Sub-Wavelength Helmholtz Resonators

It is well-known that band gaps, in the frequency domain, can be achieved by using periodic metamaterials. However it has been challenging to design materials with broad band gaps or that have multiple overlapping band gaps. For periodic materials this difficulty arises because many different length scales would have to be repeated periodically within the same structure to have multiple overlapping band gaps. Here we present an alternative: to design band gaps with disordered materials. We show how to tailor band gaps by choosing any combination of Helmholtz resonators that are positioned randomly within a host acoustic medium. One key result is that we are able to reach simple formulae for the effective material properties, which work over a broad frequency range, and can therefore be used to rapidly design tailored metamaterials. We show that these formulae are robust by comparing them with high-fidelity Monte Carlo simulations over randomly positioned resonant scatterers.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2020

On the asymptotic properties of a canonical diffraction integral

We introduce and study a new canonical integral, denoted $I_{+-}^{\varepsilon}$, depending on two complex parameters $α_1$ and $α_2$. It arises from the canonical problem of wave diffraction by a quarter-plane, and is heuristically constructed to capture the complex field near the tip and edges. We establish some region of analyticity of this integral in $\mathbb{C}^2$, and derive its rich asymptotic behaviour as $|α_1|$ and $|α_2 |$ tend to infinity. We also study the decay properties of the function obtained from applying a specific double Cauchy integral operator to this integral. These results allow us to show that this integral shares all of the asymptotic properties expected from the key unknown function $G_{+-}$ arising when the quarter-plane diffraction problem is studied via a two-complex-variables Wiener--Hopf technique (see Assier \& Abrahams, arXiv:1905.03863, 2020). As a result, the integral $I_{+ -}^{\varepsilon}$ can be used to mimic the unknown function $G_{+ -}$ and to build an efficient `educated' approximation to the quarter-plane problem.

math.AP↗

arXiv2020

A surprising observation on the quarter-plane diffraction problem

In this paper, we revisit Radlow's highly original attempt at a double Wiener-Hopf solution to the canonical problem of wave diffraction by a quarter-plane. Using a constructive approach, we reduce the problem to two equations, one containing his somewhat controversial ansatz, and an additional compatibility equation. We then show that despite Radlow's ansatz being erroneous, it gives surprisingly accurate results in the far-field, in particular for the spherical diffraction coefficient. This unexpectedly good result is established by comparing it to results obtained by the recently established modified Smyshlyaev formulae.

math.AP↗

arXiv2019

Analytical methods for perfect wedge diffraction: a review

The subject of diffraction of waves by sharp boundaries has been studied intensively for well over a century, initiated by groundbreaking mathematicians and physicists including Sommerfeld, Macdonald and Poincaré. The significance of such canonical diffraction models, and their analytical solutions, was recognised much more broadly thanks to Keller, who introduced a geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) in the middle of the last century, and other important mathematicians such as Fock and Babich. This has led to a very wide variety of approaches to be developed in order to tackle such two and three dimensional diffraction problems, with the purpose of obtaining elegant and compact analytic solutions capable of easy numerical evaluation. The purpose of this review article is to showcase the disparate mathematical techniques that have been proposed. For ease of exposition, mathematical brevity, and for the broadest interest to the reader, all approaches are aimed at one canonical model, namely diffraction of a monochromatic scalar plane wave by a two-dimensional wedge with perfect Dirichlet or Neumann boundaries. The first three approaches offered are those most commonly used today in diffraction theory, although not necessarily in the context of wedge diffraction. These are the Sommerfeld-Malyuzhinets method, the Wiener-Hopf technique, and the Kontorovich-Lebedev transform approach. Then follows three less well-known and somewhat novel methods, which would be of interest even to specialists in the field, namely the embedding method, a random walk approach, and the technique of functionally-invariant solutions. Having offered the exact solution of this problem in a variety of forms, a numerical comparison between the exact solution and several powerful approximations such as GTD is performed and critically assessed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2018

Characterising particulate random media from near-surface backscattering: a machine learning approach to predict particle size and concentration

To what extent can particulate random media be characterised using direct wave backscattering from a single receiver/source? Here, in a two dimensional setting, we show using a machine learning approach that both the particle radius and concentration can be accurately measured when the boundary condition on the particles is of Dirichlet type. Although the methods we introduce could be applied to any particle type. In general backscattering is challenging to interpret for a wide range of particle concentrations, because multiple scattering cannot be ignored, except in the very dilute range. Across the concentration range from 1% to 20% we find that the mean backscattered wave field is sufficient to accurately determine the concentration of particles. However, to accurately determine the particle radius, the second moment, or average intensity, of the backscattering is necessary. We are also able to determine what is the ideal frequency range to measure a broad range of particles sizes. To get rigorous results with supervised machine learning requires a large, highly precise, dataset of backscattered waves from an infinite half-space filled with particles. We are able to create this dataset by introducing a numerical approach which accurately approximates the backscattering from an infinite half-space.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2017

Deepening subwavelength acoustic resonance via metamaterials with universal broadband elliptical microstructure

Slow sound is a frequently exploited phenomenon that metamaterials can induce in order to permit wave energy compression, redirection, imaging, sound absorption and other special functionalities. Generally however such slow sound structures have a poor impedance match to air, particularly at low frequencies, and consequently exhibit strong transmission only in narrow frequency ranges. This therefore strongly restricts their application in wave manipulation devices. In this work we design a slow sound medium that halves the effective speed of sound in air over a wide range of low frequencies, whilst simultaneously maintaining a near impedance match to air. This is achieved with a rectangular array of cylinders of elliptical cross section, a microstructure that is motivated by combining transformation acoustics with homogenization. Microstructural parameters are optimised in order to provide the required anisotropic material properties as well as near impedance matching. We then employ this microstructure in order to halve the size of a quarter-wavelength resonator (QWR), or equivalently to halve the resonant frequency of a QWR of a given size. This provides significant space savings in the context of low-frequency tonal noise attenuation in confined environments where the absorbing material is adjacent to the region in which sound propagates, such as in a duct. We term the elliptical microstructure `universal' since it may be employed in a number of diverse applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2015

Transient thermal mixed boundary value problems in the half-space

The Wiener-Hopf and Cagniard-de Hoop techniques are employed in order to solve a range of transient thermal mixed boundary value problems on the half-space. The thermal field is determined via a rapidly convergent integral, which can be evaluated straightforwardly and quickly on a desktop PC.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

On nonlinear viscoelastic deformations - a reappraisal of Fung's quasilinear viscoelastic model

This article offers a reappraisal of Fung's method for quasilinear viscoelasticity. It is shown that a number of negative features exhibited in other works, commonly attributed to the Fung approach, are merely a consequence of the way it has been applied. The approach outlined herein is shown to yield improved behaviour, and offers a straightforward scheme for solving a wide range of models. Results from the new model are contrasted with those in the literature for the case of uniaxial elongation of a bar: for an imposed stretch of an incompressible bar, and for an imposed load. In the last case, a numerical solution to a Volterra integral equation is required to obtain the results. This is achieved by a high order discretisation scheme. Finally, the stretch of a compressible viscoelastic bar is determined for two distinct materials: Horgan-Murphy and Gent.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2012

Predicting the pressure-volume curve of an elastic microsphere composite

The effective macroscopic response of nonlinear elastomeric inhomogeneous materials is of great interest in many applications including nonlinear composite materials and soft biological tissues. The interest of the present work is associated with a microsphere composite material, which is modelled as a matrix-inclusion composite. The matrix phase is a homogeneous isotropic nonlinear rubber-like material and the inclusion phase is more complex, consisting of a distribution of sizes of stiff thin spherical shells filled with gas. Experimentally, such materials have been shown to undergo complex deformation under cyclic loading. Here, we consider microspheres embedded in an unbounded host material and assume that a hydrostatic pressure is applied in the "far-field". Taking into account a variety of effects including buckling of the spherical shells, large deformation of the host phase and evolving microstructure, we derive a model predicting the pressure-relative volume change load curves. Nonlinear constitutive behaviour of the matrix medium is accounted for by employing neo-Hookean and Mooney-Rivlin incompressible models. Moreover a nearly-incompressible solution is derived via asymptotic analysis for a spherical cavity embedded in un unbounded isotropic homogeneous hyperelastic medium loaded hydrostatically. The load-curve predictions reveal a strong dependence on the microstructure of the composite, including distribution of microspheres, the stiffness of the shells, and on the initial volume fraction of the inclusions, whereas there is only a modest dependence on the characteristic properties of the nonlinear elastic model used for the rubber host.

math-ph↗