title: Edge wave on axis behind an aperture or disk having a ragged edge
abstract: Diffraction by a circular aperture or disk having a ragged edge is investigated. Theory and measurements are reported. The ragged edge is modeled as N arcs, of differing radii a(i), each of which contributes a scattered signal to the edge wave on axis behind the aperture or disk. The amplitude of each scattered signal is proportional to the angle of the arc, and the corresponding time delay is square root of [(ai)2 + (s0)2/c0], where s0 is the axial distance from the aperture plane and c0 is the sound speed. Kirchhoff theory is used to make the calculation. A formula is derived for the rms pressure of the edge wave in terms of the rms pressure and autocorrelation function of the incident wave. The formula can be evaluated for incident waves that are sinusoidal, random (e.g., noise), or transient. Predictions agree reasonably well with underwater measurements made with a spark-generated pulse incident on various apertures. The main result is that making the edge ragged reduces the rms pressure of the edge wave. Indeed, an edge profile is presented that, for a given frequency and axial observation point, eliminates the edge wave completely.
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, 78713-8029, USA.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Menounou
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Blackstock