Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-020-01139-9 (0123456789().,-volV)
( 01234567
89().,-volV)
Scattering characteristics of non-planar trifurcated
waveguides
Muhammad Afzal . Junaid Uzair Satti . Rab Nawaz
Received: 21 August 2019 / Accepted: 16 February 2020 / Published online: 27 February 2020
Ó Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract This paper provides the mode-matching
scheme to analyze the reflection and transmission of
acoustic waves in a trifurcated waveguide with
multiple bounding properties. The physical problem
involves geometric discontinuities at interface
wherein the pressure and velocity modes are matched
by using continuity conditions at aperture. The use of
orthogonal and/or non-orthogonal characteristics in
respective duct regions enable to recast the differential
system into linear algebraic system that can be solved
through inversion. It is seen that the variation of
symmetric discontinuities and the change of material
properties greatly affect the scattering radiation. The
solution is validated altogether through the opposite
analytic and numerical experiments.
Keywords Scattering  Trifurcated  Flexible 
Mode-matching
M. Afzal (&)  J. U. Satti
Department of Mathematics, Capital University of
Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
e-mail: dr.mafzal@cust.edu.pk
J. U. Satti
e-mail: junaiduzairsatti@gmail.com
R. Nawaz (&)
Department of Mathematics, COMSATS University,
Islamabad, Pakistan
e-mail: rabnawaz@comsats.edu.pk
1 Introduction
There are many interesting and challenging problems
in the field of acoustic, elasticity, electromagnetic
wave theory and water wave theory etc. that involve
propagation and scattering of waves in parallel plate
waveguides [1–5]. The key objective of such studies is
often to model and analyze the wave scattering
phenomena by using accurate mathematical tech-
niques. Various physical models and theories are
available in literature to expound the mechanism of
wave propagation. Some of the fascinating aspects of
mathematical modeling along with elegant mathemat-
ical tools are discussed in [6, 7]. The envisaged
boundary value problems are governed usually by
Helmholtz or Laplace type equation together with
rigid/soft or impedance type boundary conditions, and
a range of such boundary value problems have been
tackled by using Weiner–Hopf (WH) technique, for
instance see [8–11].
However, there are many cases wherein the ducts or
channels involve discontinuities in geometries and/or
the change of material properties. The sudden changes
in geometry and/or material properties greatly affect
the scattering energies. For example, the acoustic
design including porous coating of walls and/or the
abrupt geometric changes in bounding surfaces are
useful to optimize the noise transmission. Likewise in
the cavity resonance mechanism, the silencer cavities
reduce the noise produced of an auto exhaust system.
The situations whereby the physical problems contain
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geometric discontinuities and/or more complex
bounding properties the use of WH technique is
inappropriate.
Thus, there needs to explore an alternative way
forward that may handle more complicated physical
situations together with mathematical ease. Neverthe-
less, recently mode-matching (MM) approach has
been adopted to elucidate relatively more complex
geometries and substantial medium properties. The
separation of variable technique is used to determine
the eigenfunction expansions of scattering field poten-
tials in different regions of the waveguide involving
unknown modal coefficients. To determine these
unknowns the matching interface conditions along
with orthogonal characteristics are employed. This
process helps to recast the differential system into the
systems of infinite linear algebraic equations that are
truncated first, and then inverted for unknown coef-
ficients. Nonetheless, the detailed information of
orthogonal properties of eigen-sub-systems is essen-
tial. For the boundary value problems governed with
Helmholtz’s or Laplace equation and involve rigid,
soft or impedance type boundary conditions, the
eigen-sub-systems underlie the Sturm Liouville (SL)
category wherein the use of usual orthogonal proper-
ties lead to the accurate solution of the problem.
On the other hand, if the boundary value problems
involve dynamic wall conditions (like membrane or
elastic plate type boundaries), the eigen-sub-systems
are of non Sturm-Liouville category whereby the use
of usual orthogonal properties is inadequate, and thus,
the recently developed generalized orthogonal prop-
erties, are until indispensable. The eigenvalues in
these cases are the roots of the dispersion relation and
are found numerically. Lawrie and Abraham [12]
discussed about the generalized orthogonal properties
of boundary value problems including higher order
boundary conditions. They applied the proposed
scheme on prototype problems to explain acoustic
scattering in membrane bounded ducts. Warren
et al. [13] applied MM technique to analyze the
acoustic scattering from step-discontinuity in the
membrane bounded waveguides. Without step-dis-
continuity (planar waveguide) they compared the MM
and WH results, and found a good agreement in both
the results. Later Lawrie [14] proved that the eigen-
functions associated with the elastic membrane or
plate type boundaries are linearly dependent and
encompass generalized orthogonal characteristics.
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Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988
She proved that such eigen-sub-systems converge
point-wise to the solution. Afterwards, many authors
have applied the MM technique to discuss different
physical problems [15–21].
This article focuses on the scattering of fluid-
structure coupled and uncoupled waves in a trifurcated
waveguide by using the MM technique. Buyukaksoy
and Polat [8] used WH approach immersed with MM
to discuss the reflection and transmission of plane
wave in a bifurcated waveguide with rigid/soft
boundary conditions. More recently, Hassan [22]
and Hassan et al. [23] presented MM analysis for
trifurcated and pentafurcated waveguide, respectively.
Nevertheless, the envisaged studies contain planar
duct geometries with rigid, soft or impedance type
boundary conditions, and the duct comprising flexible
bounding surfaces (like elastic membrane or elastic
plate) in the non-planar bifurcated or trifurcated
waveguides has not been yet addressed.
Here the emphasis is made on the study of
trifurcated waveguide involving dynamic flexible
boundaries. The related pressure or normal velocity
modes are non-orthogonal and thus yield a non-Sturm-
Liouville system. The orthogonal and non-orthogonal
modes are matched across the regions at interface to
recast the differential system into the linear algebraic
system of equations, which are then solved numeri-
cally. The study is sorted in the following sections.
The boundary value problem is formulated in Sect. 2.
In Sect. 3, the MM technique has been applied to solve
the boundary value problem. The formulation of
energy flux and mathematical validation for the
associated structure are provided in Sect. 4. Whereas
few numerical illustrations relevant to the power
distribution, normal velocities and pressures are
presented in Sect. 5. Finally, the concluding remarks
are given in Sect. 6.
2 Mathematical formulation
Here we formulate the boundary value problem to
discuss the reflection and transmission of fundamental
duct mode incident in trifurcated waveguide at
interface. In dimensional setting of coordinates
ð
x; yÞ, the waveguide is stretched infinitely along x-
direction containing two semi-infinite duct sections of
different heights. The duct section along with x\0 is
Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988 979

bounded by rigid plates whilst the section along x [ 0 ow1

¼ 0; y ¼ b; 1\x\0; ð3Þ
includes trifurcation which is made by using the oy
symmetrically located rigid horizontal plates at y ¼
 a and the elastic membranes at y ¼  h. At interface o2 ow
ð þ l2 Þ 2  aw2 ¼ 0; y ¼ h; x [ 0;

x ¼ 0, these two semi-infinite duct sections are joined ox2 oy
by rigid vertical walls. A compressible fluid of density ð4Þ
q and sound speed c is filled inside the waveguide,
whereas, the outer region of it is contained in vacou. owj
¼ 0; y ¼ a ; x [ 0; j ¼ 2; 3; 4; ð5Þ
The physical configuration of the waveguide is shown oy
in Fig. 1
Consider an incident wave of harmonic time o2 ow
ð þ l2 Þ 4 þ aw4 ¼ 0; y ¼ h; x [ 0; ð6Þ
dependence eixt, in which x ¼ ck is the angular ox2 oy
frequency and k is the wave number, is propagating
from negative x-direction towards x ¼ 0. At x ¼ 0 it is ow2
¼ 0; x ¼ 0; h  y   b ð7Þ
scattered into the infinite number of reflected and ox
transmitted modes. The dimensional field potential in and
duct regions can be given by
8 ow4
¼ 0; x ¼ 0; b  y  h: ð8Þ
>
> w1 ð
x; yÞ;  b  y  b;
 x  0 ox
>
<w ð
 x; yÞ ¼ 2 x; yÞ;  h  y   a; x  0 Here wj are the fluid velocity potentials in regions Rj
wð :
>
> 
w3 ð
x; yÞ;  a  y  a; x  0
>
: for j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4. The quantities l ¼ c=cm and a ¼
 ð
w Þ;  x  0
a  y  h;
4 x; y x2 q=ðTk3 Þ are respectively the non-dimensional
ð1Þ membrane wave number and the fluid loading param-
eter in vacuo, where, cm ¼ T=qm is the speed of waves
The boundary value problem is made dimensionless
on the membrane (vacuo) in which qm and T are
with respect to the length scale k1 and the time scale respectively the membrane mass per unit area and
x1 under the transformations x ¼ k x, y ¼ ky and membrane tension per unit length (in the normal
t ¼ xt. Therefore the dimensionless form of govern- direction) [13]. In order to describe the behavior of
ing equation is Helmholtz’s equation with unit wave membrane at semi-infinite edges and to ensure the
number, that is uniqueness of the solution we impose two extra edge
ðr2 þ 1Þwðx; yÞ ¼ 0; ð2Þ conditions at x = 0, y ¼ h. The choice of zero
displacement conditions at semi-infinite membrane
where wðx; yÞ is the dimensionless fluid velocity edges are given as:
potential. Whereas, the dimensionless form of bound-
ow2
ary conditions are: ¼ 0; x ¼ 0; y ¼ h; ð9Þ
oy

ow4
¼ 0; x ¼ 0; y ¼ h: ð10Þ
oy
At the matching interface, the normal component of
velocities and the fluid pressures can be matched by
using continuity conditions of scattering modes across
the regions. That are:

Fig. 1 The physical configuration of the waveguide

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980 Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988

8 Z b
x ¼ 0;  h  y   b;
ow2 <
0
¼ ow1 cos½nn ðy þ bÞ cos½nm ðy þ bÞdy ¼ bm dmn ;
ox : x ¼ 0;  b  y   a; b
ox ð17Þ
ð11Þ
where dmn is Kronecker delta and m ¼ 2 for m ¼ 0
ow3 ow1 and 1 otherwise. Note that in (15) first term denotes the
¼ x ¼ 0; a  y  a ð12Þ incident wave while the second term represents the
ox ox
8 reflected field in which An ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . .; are the
ow
ow4 < 1 x ¼ 0; a  y  b;
reflected mode coefficients and are unknowns. These
¼ ox ð13Þ unknowns will be found later through matching
ox :
0 x ¼ 0; b  y  h; conditions.
8
< w2
> x ¼ 0;  b  y   a; 3.2 Region R2 : fx [ 0; h  y   ag
w1 ¼ w3 x ¼ 0;  a  y  a: ð14Þ
>
:
w4 x ¼ 0; a  y  b; In this region, (2), (4) and (5) lead to the eigenfunction
expansion form of transmitted field as:
In the next section we solve the boundary value
X
1
problem by following the mode-matching procedure. w2 ðx; yÞ ¼ Bn cosh½cn ðy þ aÞeimn x ; ð18Þ
n¼0
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
3 Mode-matching solution where mn ¼ 1 þ c2n , be the nth transmitted mode
wave number in which cn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are the
In order to solve the boundary value problem by using eigenvalues and these satisfy the dispersion relation:
the MM technique we first determine the eigenfunc-  2 
cn þ 1  l2 cn sinh½cn ðh  aÞ
tion expansions and related orthogonality conditions
of the duct regions. In different duct regions these are  a cosh½cn ðh  aÞ ¼ 0 for n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . .:
explained in accompanying subsections. ð19Þ
The roots of (19) can be found numerically and contain
3.1 Region R1 :¼ fx\0; b  y  bg
following properties:
On using the separation of variable technique, (2) and (i) There is one real root c0 [ 0 and infinite
(3) yield the eigenfunction expansion form of field number of imaginary roots.
potential as: (ii) For each root cn , there is another root cn for
X
1 n ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . ..
w1 ðx; yÞ ¼ eix þ An cos½nn ðy þ bÞeign x ; ð15Þ
n¼0 These roots are arranged by employing the convention
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi that the real roots appear first and than the positive
where, gn ¼ 1  n2n be the nth mode wave number imaginary roots which are sorted sequentially in an
in which nn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are the eigenvalues which ascending order. However, the negative imaginary
satisfy the dispersion relation: roots are omitted. Consequently, the appearing eigen-
sub-system is non-SL but contains well defined
sinð2bnn Þ ¼ 0; for n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . ð16Þ generalize orthogonal properties, see [14]. The admis-
The corresponding eigenfunctions cos½nn ðy þ bÞ; n ¼ sible eigenfunctions cosh½cn ðy þ aÞ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are
0; 1; 2. . .; satisfy the usual form of orthogonality non-orthogonal and satisfy the generalized orthogo-
relation, that is: nality relation:

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Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988 981

Z a " #
a cosh½cm ðy þ aÞ cosh½cn ðy þ aÞdy aX 1
cm sinh½cm ðh  aÞ X 1 X1
e1 ¼ Qm0  An gn Qmn ;
h S m¼0 mm Em m¼0 n¼0
¼ Em dmn  cm cn sinh½cm ðh  aÞ sinh½cn ðh  aÞ; ð26Þ
ð20Þ
where
where
X1 2
cm sinh2 ½cm ðh  aÞ
  S¼ : ð27Þ
ðh  aÞa 1þ l c2m 2
mm E m
Em ¼ þ c2m þ sinh2 ½cm ðh  aÞ: m¼0
2 2
ð21Þ
3.3 Region R3 : fx [ 0; a  y  ablank; g
Note that the coefficients Bn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . .; in (18) are
the amplitudes of transmitted modes and are For this region, (2) and (5) yield the eigenfunction
unknowns. These can be written in term of reflected expansion form of transmitted field as:
modes by matching the normal velocity modes across
the regions R1 and R2 at interface. For this on using X
1
w3 ðx; yÞ ¼ Cn cos½sn ðy þ aÞeikn x ; ð28Þ
(15)–(18) into (11), we get n¼0

X
1 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Bn mn cosh½cn ðy þ aÞ where, kn ¼ 1  s2n , be the wave number of nth
n¼0
 transmitted mode in which sn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . .; are the
0;  h  y   b; eigenvalues that satisfy the dispersion relation
¼ P1
1 n¼0 n n cos½nn ðy þ bÞ;
A g  b  y   a;
sinð2asn Þ ¼ 0; for n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . .: ð29Þ
ð22Þ
On multiplying equation (22) with a cosh½cm ðy þ aÞ, The corresponding eigenfunctions cos½sn ðy þ aÞ; n ¼
integrating from  h to  a and then by using the 0; 1; 2. . .; are orthogonal and satisfy the usual orthog-
generalized orthogonality relation (20), we get: onality relation:
Z a
cm sinh½cm ðh  aÞ cos½sm ðy þ aÞ cos½sn ðy þ aÞdy ¼ admn n :
Bm ¼ e1 a
mm E m
( ) ð23Þ ð30Þ
a X 1
þ Qm0  An gn Qmn ;
m m Em n¼0
Note that in (26) the transmitted mode coefficients
Cn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are unknowns. These can be written
where, in terms of reflected mode coefficients by matching the
normal velocity modes across the regions R1 and R3
e1 ¼ iw2xy ð0; hÞ ð24Þ
at interface. For this, we use (15) and (28) into (12) to
and get:

2b X
1
Qmn ¼ Cn kn cos½sn ðy þ aÞ
n2 p2 þ 4b2 c2m
    n¼0
ð31Þ
ðb  aÞnp X
1
np sin þ 2bcm sinh½ðb  aÞcm  :
2b ¼1 An gn cos½nn ðy þ bÞ; a  y  a
n¼0
ð25Þ
On multiplying (31) by cos½sm ðy þ aÞ, integrating
Here the constant e1 is unknown which describes the
from  a to a and then using the usual orthogonality
behavior of membrane at finite edge ðx; yÞ ¼ ð0; hÞ.
relation (30), it is found that:
To determine the value of this constant e1 , we
substitute (23) into (18) and then the use of zero
displacement edge condition (9) reveals:

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982 Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988

( )
1 X
1 coefficients by matching the normal velocity modes
Cm ¼ Rm0  An gn Rmn ; ð32Þ across the regions R1 and R4 at interface. For this, we
akm m n¼0 invoke, (15) and (36) into (13) to get
where X
1
8 Dn mn cosh½cn ðy  aÞ
>
< 2a m¼n¼0 n¼0
 P1
Rmn ¼ Lmn m 6¼ n ð33Þ 1 n¼0 An gn cos½nn ðy þ bÞ a  y  b;
>
: ¼
Mm m¼n 0; b  y  h;
in which ð38Þ
On multiplying (38) with a cosh½cm ðy  aÞ, integrat-
2a2 nb
Lmn ¼ ing from a to h and then using generalized orthogo-
ðb m2  a2 n2 Þp
2
h nality relation (37), we found
npi h npi

sin ða þ bÞ cos½mp þ sin ða  bÞ

2b 2b cm sinh½cm ðh  aÞ
Dm ¼ e2
ð34Þ m m Em
( ) ð39Þ
and a X1
þ Pm0  An gn Pmn ;
Em m m n¼0
a2 b
Mm ¼
ða2  b2 Þmp where
h mpi h mpi

3 sin ða  bÞ þ sin ða þ 3bÞ : 2b

2b 2b Pmn ¼
n2 p2 þ 4b2 c2m
ð35Þ    
ða þ bÞnp
np sin þ 2bcm cos½np sinh½ða  bÞcm 
2b
3.4 Region R4 : fx [ 0; a  y  hg ð40Þ

In this region the (2), (5) and (6) yield the eigenfunc- and
tion expansion form of transmitted field as: e2 ¼ iw4xy ð0; hÞ: ð41Þ
X
1
w4 ðx; yÞ ¼ Dn cosh½cn ðy  aÞeimn x ; ð36Þ Here the constant e2 is unknown which describe the
n¼0 behavior of membrane at finite edge ðx; yÞ ¼ ð0; hÞ.
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi For zero displacement edge condition (9), it is found
where, mn ¼ 1 þ c2n be the nth transmitted mode
that:
wave number in which cn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are the
eigenvalues. These values cn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are the aX 1
cm sinh½cm ðh  aÞ
e2 ¼ 
roots of the dispersion relation (19) and contain S m¼0 m m Em
properties stated for region R2 . The corresponding ( ) ð42Þ
X1
eigenfunctions cosh½cn ðy  aÞ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2. . . are non- Pm0  An gn Pmn :
orthogonal and satisfy the generalized orthogonality n¼0
relation
Finally we use the continuity condition of pressure at
Z h
interface and determine the reflected modes coeffi-
a cosh½cm ðy  aÞ cosh½cn ðy  aÞdy cients explicitly in terms of transmitted mode coeffi-
a
¼ Em dmn  cm cn sinh½cm ðh  aÞ sinh½cn ðh  aÞ; cients. Thus, on using (15), (18), (28) and (36) into
(14), it is straightforward to obtain
ð37Þ
where Em is defined in (21) and Dn ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2; . . . are
the unknown transmitted mode coefficients. These
coefficients can be written in terms of reflected mode

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Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988 983

X
1 Rj ; j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4. This is conservation law. The math-
1þ An cos½nn ðy þ bÞ ematical forms of the scattering powers are found by
n¼0
8 P1 using the field potentials of regions Rj ; j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4
< P n¼0 Bn cosh½cn ðy þ aÞ;
>  by  a into (45) and (46), that are
1
¼ n¼0 Cn cos½sn ðy þ aÞ;  a  y  a: ( )
>
: P1 X 1
1
n¼0 Dn cosh½cn ðy  aÞ; ayb E 1 ¼ Re 2 
j An j g n  n ð47Þ
ð43Þ 2 n¼0

( )
On multiplying with cos½nm ðy þ bÞ, integrating from 1 X1
2 
 b to b and then using the usual orthogonality relation E2 ¼ Re j Bn j m n En ð48Þ
2ba n¼0
(17), we found
( ) ( )
1 X
1 X
1 X
1
a X1
Am ¼ dm0 þ Bn Qnm þ Cn Rnm þ 2 
Dn Pnm : E 3 ¼ Re j C n j kn  n ð49Þ
bm n¼0 n¼0 n¼0 2b n¼0
ð44Þ ( )
1 X1
Note that the above equation relates the reflected mode E4 ¼ Re j Dn j2 mn En : ð50Þ
coefficients of region R1 with the transmitted mode 2ba n¼0
coefficients of regions Rj ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4. However, by
Here E 1 represents the power reflected in region R1
substituting (23), (32) and (39) into (44), a system of and E j ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4 show transmitted powers in regions
infinite linear algebraic equations containing
Rj ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4 wherein the incident power is being
unknowns An ; n ¼ 0; 1; 2; . . . is achieved. This system
scaled at unity. Whereas, the conserved power identity
is truncated upto N terms and then is solved numer-
is
ically for unknown coefficients.
E 1 þ E 2 þ E 3 þ E 4 ¼ 1: ð51Þ

4 Energy balance Note that the MM solution found in previous section

preserve the conserve power identity (51). In fact, on
P
Here we determine the expressions for energy flux in multiplying with 1  
m¼0 Am gm m b, (44) yields
regions Rj ; j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4. The non-dimensional form of X
1
power/energy flux propagating through fluid per unit j Am j2 gm m b
m¼0
length in z-direction can be defined by [13] (
 Z    X
1 X
1 X
1
oE ow ¼  2A0 b þ Bn Am gm Qnm þ Cn Am gm Rnm
¼ Re i w dy ; ð45Þ n¼0 m¼0 m¼0
ot X ox )
X
1

where, the superposed asterisk (*) stands for the þ Dn Am gm Pnm
m¼0
complex conjugate and X is the domain of regions
Rj ; j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4. However, the non-dimensional form ð52Þ
of energy flux propagating along the membrane But from (23), (32) and (39), we can write:
boundaries is given as [13]
X
1
1  
(    ) Am gm Qnm ¼ Qn0 þ c sinh ½cn ðh  aÞe1  Bn mn En ;
oE i ow o2 w m¼0
a n
¼ Re : ð46Þ
ot a oy oxoy ð53Þ
y¼h

Now by substituting the incident field expðixÞ into X

1

(45), the incident power is found to be 2b. When this Am gm Rnm ¼ Rn0  Cn kn n a; ð54Þ
m¼0
power is fed into the system it will be equal to the sum
of reflected and transmitted powers of regions

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X
1
1  
Am gm Pnm ¼ Pn0 þ cn sinh ½cn ðh  aÞe2  Dn mn En ;
m¼0
a
ð55Þ
By invoking (53)–(55) into (52), and then simplifying
the resulting equation with the aid of (9)–(10) and
(44), we conclude that
X
4
E j ¼ E T ¼ 1; ð56Þ
j¼1

which is exactly the conserved power identity (51).

5 Numerical results and discussion
In this section, the wave scattering in the waveguide of
infinite length and finite height together with discon-
tinuities located at x = 0 is studied by analyzing the
reflection and transmission of energy flux in different
regions of the channel. The system of equations
defined by (23), (32), (39) and (44) is truncated first
upto n ¼ m ¼ 0; 1; 2; . . .; N terms and then is solved
numerically. Now the truncated solution can be used
to discuss the distribution of energy flux/power in duct
regions and to reconstruct the matching conditions at
interface. In the numerical results, speed of sound in
air c = 343 m s1 , density of air q ¼ 1:2043 kg m3
and membrane mass density qm ¼ 0:1715 kg m2 ,
remain fixed. The scattering powers E j for j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4
1:05 and a
1:82 (see Fig. 2) while for the
are referred as the reflection and transmission of
0:51; a
1:05
energy flux in regions Rj ; j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4. In our
2:08 (see Fig. 3). Moreover, relatively more
Fig. 3 The energy flux against non-dimensional height a for
continuous structure where h ¼ b ¼ 3  a and N = 30 terms
discussion k ¼ 2pf =c and y ¼ k y are referred as
the wave number and dimensionless height.
In Figs. 2 and 3, the reflected energy E 1 and
transmitted energies E 2 , E 3 and E 4 versus the non-
dimensional size of central region a at fixed frequency
f = 250 Hz and tension T = 350 N are plotted for
structure discontinuities involving channel and plan-
ner channel. It is seen that as the duct size increases,
the transmission in rigid walls bounded region
increases while the transmission in membrane
bounded sections decreases. But when the new cuts-
on appear the transmission in the membrane bounded
regions start increasing. It is important to notice that
the cut-on duct modes for the discontinuous case occur
at a
continuous case these appear at a
and a
reflection for planar waveguide than discontinuous

Fig. 2 The energy flux against non-dimensional height a for Fig. 4 The energy flux against non-dimensional height b for
discontinuous structure where h ¼ 5  a; b ¼ 3  a and N = 30 discontinuous structure where h ¼ 3  b;
 a ¼ 0:05 m,
terms f = 250 Hz and N = 30 terms

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Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988 985

Fig. 7 The energy flux plotted against frequency for different

Fig. 5 The energy flux against non-dimensional height b for
values of tension for discontinuous structure where h ¼
continuous structure where h ¼ b;
 a ¼ 0:05 m, f = 250 Hz and
N = 30 terms 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m and N = 30 terms

waveguide is observed. However, the energy relation

(56) remains valid in whole regime.
Figures 4 and 5 show the scattering energy against
the size of inlet duct while the size of central region R3
is fixed at a ¼ 0:05 m. Now by varying the size of inlet
duct that patently varies the size of regions R2 and R4
(h ¼ 3  b),
 the reflection in R1 and transmission in
central region R3 increase, whilst the transmissions in
regions R2 and R4 are decreased. But when new ducts
modes become cut-on the scattering behaves inver-
sely. Note that these cut-on modes appear at b ¼
k b
1:46 for configuration involving discontinu- Fig. 8 The energy flux plotted against frequency for different
ities (see Fig. 4) and appear at b ¼ k b
1:23 with values of tension for continuous structure where h ¼ 0:1 m; a ¼
0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m and N = 30 terms
planar structure (see Fig. 5), whereas,
0:1 m  b  0:4 m, f = 250 Hz and tension
of inlet duct region in the case of structurally
T = 350 N. The comparison of Figs. 4 and 5 depicts
continuous setting.
that relatively greater amount of acoustic energy is
The effect of variation in symmetric height discon-
transmitted through the central region against the size
tinuities on scattering energies is shown in Fig. 6. For
fixed frequency f = 250 Hz and dimensions a ¼
0:05 m and b ¼ 0:1 m, the non-dimensional height
discontinuities h ¼ k h are changed symmetrically
from h ¼ 0:1 m to h ¼ 0:4 m. The cut-on duct modes
occur at k h
1:23: From Fig. 6 it is interesting to
note that the variation in height discontinuities greatly
affect the scattering energies.
In Figs. 7 and 8, the scattering energy components
are shown against frequency for the different values of
membrane tension whereas the vertical height dimen-
sions remain unchanged. The tension T is directly
related to the elastic modulus. The variations of
tension change the speed of wave on membrane cm ¼
Fig. 6 The energy flux against discontinuous height h where T=qm which alters the membrane wave number
a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and N = 30 terms

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986 Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988

l ¼ c=cm . Likewise the fluid loading parameter a ¼

x2 q=ðTk3 Þ is also varied by changing the tension of
membrane. It can be seen that by varying frequency
from 1 to 700 Hz the reflection in region R1 is
decreased while the transmission through central
region is increased. It is noted that by increasing the
membrane tension the reflection in R1 (see long
dashed curves in Fig. 7) and the transmission in R3
(see small dashed curves in Fig. 7) are decreased while
the transmission in regions R2 and R4 (see dotted and
solid curves in Fig. 7) is increased. The dissimilarity
of scattering components against membrane tension is
more prominent in low frequency range and before the Fig. 9 The scattering energies plotted against number of terms
occurrence of new cut-on duct modes. These cut-on N for discontinuous structure where
h ¼ 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and
modes exist at f = 401 Hz for geometrically discon- T = 350 N
tinuous setting (see Fig. 7) and occur at f = 601 Hz
for planar setting (see Fig. 8).
To look at the accuracy of MM solution computa-
tionally against truncation parameter N, Table 1, and
Figs. 9 and 10 are shown with a ¼ 0:05 m,
f = 250 Hz and T = 350 N. Whereas, b ¼ 0:1 m
and h ¼ 0:15 m for discontinuous waveguide and for
planar waveguide b ¼ h ¼ 0:1 m. From Table 1 it can
be seen that the scattering energies converge upto two
and three decimal places even with truncation number
N = 25. Moreover, the sum of reflected energy (E 1 )
and transmitted energies (E 2 , E 3 , and E 4 ) remains unity
for each value of N. The point-wise variation of
energies verses N are shown Figs. 9 and 10, which Fig. 10 The scattering energies plotted against number of terms
clearly satisfy the conserve energy identity (51). N for planar structure where h ¼ 0:1 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m,
f = 250 Hz and T = 350 N

Table 1 The scattering energies against truncation parameter N, where a ¼ 0:05 m, T = 350 N, f = 250 Hz
Cases N E1 E2 E3 E4 ET

Discontinuous configuration b ¼ 0:1 m; h ¼ 0:15 m 7 0.227083 0.0632231 0.646471 0.0632231 1

16 0.23691 0.0661085 0.630873 0.0661085 1
25 0.240025 0.0669775 0.62602 0.0669775 1
40 0.24244 0.0676464 0.622267 0.0676464 1
49 0.243032 0.0678094 0.621349 0.0678094 1
Planar configuration b ¼ h ¼ 0:1 m 7 0.183255 0.113169 0.590407 0.113169 1
16 0.190581 0.117277 0.574866 0.117277 1
25 0.193002 0.118606 0.569787 0.118606 1
40 0.194921 0.119655 0.565769 0.119655 1
49 0.195397 0.119915 0.564772 0.119915 1

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Meccanica (2020) 55:977–988 987

Fig. 11 The real part of normal velocities verses height in non- Fig. 14 The imaginary part of pressures verses height in non-
dimensional form at interface, where, dimensional form at interface, where,
h ¼ 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and N = 120 h ¼ 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and N = 120
terms terms

Furthermore, we reconstruct the continuity condi-

tions (11)–(14) at matching interface to validate the
truncated solution. By fixing the waveguide dimen-
sions, at a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m and h ¼ 0:15 m, the
real and imaginary parts of non-dimensional normal
velocities and pressures are plotted in Figs. 11, 12, 13
and 14. From Figs. 11 and 12, it can be seen that the
real and imaginary parts of non-dimensional normal
velocity w1x ð0; yÞ; b\y\b of region R1 match
exactly to the normal velocities wjx ð0; yÞ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4 of
regions Rj ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4 in their respective regions at
aperture. Likewise the real and imaginary parts of non-
Fig. 12 The imaginary part of normal velocities verses height
in non-dimensional form at interface, where
dimensional pressure w1 ð0; yÞ; b\y\b match
h ¼ 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and N = 120 exactly with the non-dimensional pressures
terms wj ð0; yÞ; j ¼ 2; 3; 4 in their respective regions at aper-
ture (see Figs. 13, 14). These are exactly the condi-
tions considered in equations (11)–(14). However,
there appear some oscillations in normal velocities.
These oscillations are due to the Gibb’s phenomenon
that can be removed by increasing the truncation
number N or by using the Lanczos filters [17].
In this way the truncated form of MM solution not
only satisfies the matching conditions of pressures and
velocities (11)–(14) at interface but it also validates
the conserved power identity (51).

6 Concluding remarks
Fig. 13 The real part of pressures verses height in non-
dimensional form at interface, where, The present study highlights the scattering of acoustic
h ¼ 0:15 m; a ¼ 0:05 m; b ¼ 0:1 m, f = 250 Hz and N = 120
terms
radiation in trifurcated waveguide containing rigid/
flexible boundaries along with the structural

123
988
discontinuities. The MM solution has been explored to
analyze the energy flux in various duct regions against
the dimensions of the waveguide and frequency. It is
important to notice that the eigenfunctions for the
regions comprising rigid-flexible boundaries yield the
non-Sturm Liouville systems wherein the use of
recently developed orthogonal characteristics are
indispensable [14]. Thus, the use of the generalized
orthogonality relations (20) and (37) enabled to recast
the differential system into the linear algebraic system
that has been solved later numerically. It is interesting
to note that the conserved power identity not only
provide a useful check on the accuracy of algebra but
also provide a useful information about the cut-on
modes verses various duct configurations and fre-
quency. Unlike to Wiener–Hopf approach [2–4], the
solution scheme discussed here can equally cope the
wave scattering in planar as well as discontinuous
waveguide along with different material properties. It
is seen that the variation of membrane tension and
structural discontinuities greatly affect the scattering
of energies. The fulfillment of matching conditions
and energy balance confirm the accuracy of truncated
form of the solution.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no
conflict of interest.
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