Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 77 / 1

Let $r=|\mathbf{x}|$, $n_i=x_i/r$, and let the source have size $\ell$. The retarded acoustic Green function gives the outgoing solution of Lighthill acoustic analogy asThis follows by integrating the source derivatives by parts in the retarded convolution. Assume the source is localized and the boundary terms vanish. In the acoustic compact-source approximation, $k_0\ell \ll 1$, the retardation across the source can be neglected, while $r\gg \ell$ permits replacement of the denominator by $r$. The integral becomes $S_{ij}(t-r/c_0)/r$.

In the radiation region $k_{0}r\gg 1$, derivatives of the retarded argument dominate derivatives of the spreading factor. Since ${\partial }_{x_i}(t-r/c_0)=-n_i/c_0$, the leading acoustic quadrupole field isThe two negative retardation derivatives give a positive sign. This is a far-field approximation, with smaller near-field terms omitted.

For low-Mach number aerodynamic fluctuations of speed $U$ and advective time $\ell /U$, take $T_{ij}=O({\rho }_0{U}^2)$, $S_{ij}=O({\rho }_0{U}^2{\ell }^3)$, and two time derivatives of order $(U/\ell {)}^2$. ThereforeThe quoted fourth power is the compact acoustic quadrupole Mach-number scaling, with geometric spreading shown explicitly. It assumes the source strength and time scale just stated; the source must be acoustically compact, and the observation point must remain in the radiation region.

Use complex amplitudes with time dependence $e^{i\omega t}$, so the outgoing two-dimensional Helmholtz equation kernel has phase $e^{-i{k}_{0}r}$. Dividing the harmonic form of Lighthill acoustic analogy by $c_0^2$ and integrating the two source derivatives by parts gives an amplitude proportional toOnly the magnitude is needed here; the specified kernel omits its constant phase and normalization. In the acoustic compact-source approximation, $\int {\tilde{T}}_{ij}{d}^{2}y=O({\rho }_0{U}^2{\ell }^2)$. With $\omega =O(U/\ell )$, hence $k_0\ell =O(m)$, the two-dimensional compact quadrupole scaling isThe half-power difference from three dimensions comes from cylindrical spreading, including its $k_0^{-1/2}$ factor. As in part (i), the Mach number power is stated with the geometrical range factor separated; $k_{0}r\gg 1$ is still required.

Choose the shock wave normal to point from $S<0$ to $S>0$:The latter identity follows by differentiating $S({\mathbf{x}}_s(t),t)=0$ along the moving surface. Write $[a]=a^{+}-a^{-}$ and $[\mathbf{b}]={\mathbf{b}}^{+}-{\mathbf{b}}^{-}$. The distributional derivative of the Heaviside step function is ${\partial }_{t}H(S)=S_t\delta (S)$ and $\nabla H(S)=\nabla S\delta (S)$. The regular terms cancel using the conservation equations on each side, leavingThus the explicitly requested vector isOnly its normal component matters; adding tangential velocity to the surface parametrization changes neither result. The invariant surface delta distribution is ${\delta }_s=|\nabla S|\delta (S)$, so the formula is the moving-interface conservation jump identity ${\partial }_{t}a+\nabla \cdot \mathbf{b}=([\mathbf{b}]\cdot \mathbf{n}-v_n[a]){\delta }_s$.

Apply the moving-interface conservation jump identity first to mass, then to each momentum component. Write $j_i=\rho u_i$ and ${\Pi }_{ij}=\rho u_i{u}_j+p{\delta }_{ij}-{\sigma }_{ij}$, with all quantities understood piecewise on the two sides. Define the jumps of flux relative to the moving shock wave byThe global distributional conservation equations areDifferentiate the first in time and subtract the divergence of the second. With ${\rho }^{\prime }=\rho -{\rho }_0$ and the piecewise Lighthill stress tensor $T_{ij}=\rho u_i{u}_j+(p^{\prime }-c_0^2{\rho }^{\prime }){\delta }_{ij}-{\sigma }_{ij}$, this givesDerivatives act on the complete distributions, including their moving support. The acoustic quadrupole term represents momentum-stress fluctuations throughout the volume. The time derivative of the surface mass-flux defect is an acoustic monopole, representing injection or removal of mass/volume. The divergence of the surface momentum-flux defect is an acoustic dipole, representing a force sheet. This is the distributional acoustic analogy across a moving interface.

For an actual freely propagating fluid shock wave with no singular mass or momentum supply, the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions give $Q=0$ and $L_i=0$. Such a shock does not acquire independent monopole and force-sheet sources merely because it is discontinuous. Its effects remain in the distributional derivatives of $T_{ij}$, including singular derivatives of its jump. Nonzero surface sources are appropriate for an interface with exchange/forcing or for a formulation that omits one side of the fluid.

A shock does not, by itself, justify retaining the $m^4$ scaling. That estimate required a low-Mach number stress $O({\rho }_0{U}^2)$ varying on the slow time $\ell /U$. Fast shock motion, short time scales, or thermodynamic deviations can invalidate that estimate. If these same compact, slow-source assumptions remain valid for the integrated Lighthill stress tensor, its quadrupole estimate still follows, even distributionally. There is no universal replacement power deducible from the mere presence of a shock; nor should vanished physical flux defects be treated as additional independent radiation sources.