Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/iii/paper-77/2/a/solution

Use the Fourier transform convention . Let , choosing on the real contour with . For time dependence , this is the decaying continuation of the outgoing Sommerfeld radiation condition.
The transformed Helmholtz equation has upper and lower solutions and . The two kinematic traces give , hence
The elastic membrane equation gives . Therefore the acoustic wave on a tensioned massive membrane has dispersion relation
Equivalently, . The fluid on both sides supplies a positive added mass of an evanescent fluid layer, which is a useful independent check on the sign. In particular, the incident pressure is
The symbol here denotes elastic membrane mass per area, rather than the fluctuating Mach number used in Question 1.

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