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This paper presents the propagation of waves along a one-dimensional “diatomic” chain made up to welded spheres, i.e., with two steel spheres of different diameters alternating. First, a theoretical analysis is presented, which gives the vibration modes of an infinite chain, leading to two low-frequency branches, separated by a band gap. A theoretical analysis is then performed on a finite chain, containing an even or an odd number of spheres. Depending on the parity of the number of spheres in the finite chain and on the ratio between the masses of the spheres, it points out that localized modes may appear in the band gap. The theoretical results have been validated by a comparison between numerical and experimental results. Many applications of such systems can therefore be found: acoustic filters, noise and vibration isolation, acoustic wave guiding, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reef fish distributions are patchy in time and space with some coral reef habitats supporting higher densities (i.e., aggregations) of fish than others. Identifying and quantifying fish aggregations (particularly during spawning events) are often top priorities for coastal managers. However, the rapid mapping of these aggregations using conventional survey methods (e.g., non-technical SCUBA diving and remotely operated cameras) are limited by depth, visibility and time. Acoustic sensors (i.e., splitbeam and multibeam echosounders) are not constrained by these same limitations, and were used to concurrently map and quantify the location, density and size of reef fish along with seafloor structure in two, separate locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Reef fish aggregations were documented along the shelf edge, an ecologically important ecotone in the region. Fish were grouped into three classes according to body size, and relationships with the benthic seascape were modeled in one area using Boosted Regression Trees. These models were validated in a second area to test their predictive performance in locations where fish have not been mapped. Models predicting the density of large fish (≥29 cm) performed well (i.e., AUC = 0.77). Water depth and standard deviation of depth were the most influential predictors at two spatial scales (100 and 300 m). Models of small (≤11 cm) and medium (12–28 cm) fish performed poorly (i.e., AUC = 0.49 to 0.68) due to the high prevalence (45–79%) of smaller fish in both locations, and the unequal prevalence of smaller fish in the training and validation areas. Integrating acoustic sensors with spatial modeling offers a new and reliable approach to rapidly identify fish aggregations and to predict the density large fish in un-surveyed locations. This integrative approach will help coastal managers to prioritize sites, and focus their limited resources on areas that may be of higher conservation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the existing models describing the behavior of microbubble ultrasound contrast agents consider single, isolated microbubbles suspended in infinite media. The behavior of a microbubble population is predicted by summing the results for single microbubbles and ignoring multiple scattering effects. The aim of this investigation is to determine the significance of multiple scattering in microbubble populations and establish whether an alternative approach is required. In the first part of the work, linear models are derived to identify approximately the conditions under which multiple scattering may be expected. A nonlinear model for sound propagation in a microbubble suspension then is developed and used to examine multiple scattering at higher insonation pressures. Broadband attenuation measurements are described for two different types of microbubble suspension (albumin encapsulated octofluropropane and copolymer encapsulated isobutane) to ascertain whether or not multiple scattering may be observed experimentally. The results from the simulation work indicate that multiple scattering effects would be discernible at moderate concentrations (106 microbubbles/ml) such as may be present in vivo. The effect upon attenuation in the suspension would be pronounced, however, only if the population contained a sufficient proportion of relatively large (> 4 μm radius) microbubbles excited at their resonance frequency. This also is found to be the case experimentally. These findings may have important implications for the characterization of ultrasound contrast agents and their use in quantitative diagnostic techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on reports presented at the Saint Petersburg workshop on computational and theoretical acoustics of the Scientific Council on Acoustics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I.V. Andronov's reports on wave propagation along a narrow crack in an elastic plate in contact with an acoustic medium; A.V. Aref'ev study on the propagation of waves of different origin in smoothly inhomogeneous stratified media.

Describes the capabilities of time-reversed acoustics techniques. Reason reversing sound is possible in principle; Advantages of the technique; Method used to investigate the effect of excluding or including the localized source term.