Past exam of the theoretical mechanics course of the University of Oxford / 2008 / B / 6 / Solution

Rigid walls require zero normal velocity, so ${\varphi }_x=0$ at $x=0,L$ and ${\varphi }_y=0$ at $y=0,b$. Separation of variables gives spatial modes $\cos (m\pi x/L)\cos (n\pi y/b)$, for nonnegative integers $m,n$. The wave equation therefore givesThe $(0,0)$ spatially constant mode has zero frequency and is not an ordinary positive-frequency acoustic oscillation.

A spatially uniform boundary forcing excites the $n=0$ transverse mode. Put $\varphi =X(x)\cos \omega t$. Then $X^{\prime \prime }+(\omega /c_0{)}^{2}X=0$ and $X^{\prime }(L)=0$, hence $X=C\cos [\omega (L-x)/c_0]$. The condition $X^{\prime }(0)=a$ fixes $C$ and givesArbitrary free oscillations can be superposed. The denominator vanishes at longitudinal resonances. Near them the lossless steady harmonic response ceases to be a uniformly small-amplitude approximation; damping from viscosity, heat transfer or wall losses regularizes the response, and large amplitudes can require nonlinear equations of motion or a more accurate moving-boundary model. At exact resonance a switched-on ideal forcing produces secular growth rather than a bounded harmonic particular solution.

For the semi-infinite duct expand $F(y)={\sum }_{n\ge 0}{F}_n\cos (n\pi y/b)$. Each axial mode hasFor a propagating mode a particular solution is ${\varphi }_n=(F_n/k_n)\cos (n\pi y/b)\cos (k_{n}x-\omega t)$; differentiating at zero gives the prescribed $F_n\cos (n\pi y/b)\sin \omega t$. A nonzero higher transverse coefficient propagates when $|\omega |>n\pi c_0/b$.

The outgoing radiation condition selects $c_0^2{k}_n/\omega >0$, its positive axial group velocity. Thus $\boxed{\omega k_n>0}$. This sign is selected by the absence of waves incident from infinity, not by the differential equation alone. If $F$ has a nonzero mean, its $n=0$ component can propagate even below every higher-mode cutoff.

For $F=\cos (\pi y/b)$ and $0<|\omega |<\pi c_0/b$, put $\kappa =\sqrt{(\pi /b{)}^2-{\omega }^2/c_0^2}$. The decaying solution isIt is evanescent and carries no mean energy to infinity. These mode and sign conditions are summarized by the radiation condition for a waveguide mode.