Loss Mechanisms
Loss mechanisms in acoustics due to viscosity, thermal conduction, relaxation processes, and other processes cause absorption and dissipation of the acoustic energy. These result in a reduction in the pressure wave amplitude. This is not due to geometrical spreading where no energy is lost, but because heating actually takes place. When an acoustic wave undergoes absorption, this process is in general also accompanied by dispersion, that is, the dependence of the speed of sound on frequency.
Loss mechanism in acoustics can roughly be divided into four categories, but can of course also happen simultaneously. The division is mostly conceptual:
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Bulk or volume losses are associated with the propagation of waves over long distances or at very high frequencies (also known as internal damping). The (plane wave) attenuation coefficient α (SI unit: 1/m) is often associated with this mechanism. Several loss models are included in the Pressure Acoustics model (see also Theory for the Equivalent Fluid Models) including: User-Defined Attenuation Fluid Model, Atmosphere Attenuation Fluid Model, Ocean Attenuation Fluid Model, or Thermally Conducting and/or Viscous Fluid Model. Note that the Thermally Conducting and/or Viscous Fluid Model should not be confused with boundary layer losses (see next point). Bulk losses are due to several different mechanisms including viscous and thermal dissipation, relaxation processes, and other loss mechanism.
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