Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 77 / 2 / a / Solution

Use the Fourier transform convention $\hat{p}(k,y)={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}{e}^{ikx}p(x,y)dx$. Let $\gamma (k{)}^2=k^2-k_0^2$, choosing $\mathrm{Re}\gamma >0$ on the real contour with $\mathrm{Im}\omega <0$. For time dependence $e^{i\omega t}$, this is the decaying continuation of the outgoing Sommerfeld radiation condition.

The transformed Helmholtz equation has upper and lower solutions $P(k)e^{-\gamma y}$ and $Q(k)e^{\gamma y}$. The two kinematic traces give $-\gamma P={\rho }_0{\omega }^2\hat{\eta }=\gamma Q$, henceThe elastic membrane equation gives $[\hat{p}]=(m{\omega }^2-T{k}^2)\hat{\eta }$. Therefore the acoustic wave on a tensioned massive membrane has dispersion relationEquivalently, $T{k}^2={\omega }^2(m+2{\rho }_0/\gamma )$. 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 isThe symbol $m$ here denotes elastic membrane mass per area, rather than the fluctuating Mach number used in Question 1.