Acoustics - Thermal

This course unit consists of two blocks of 18 hours each (9 hours of lectures + 9 hours of tutorials).

For the first section on “acoustics,” after deriving the equation of mechanical vibration propagation in an infinite medium, the solutions involving plane waves will be presented. The focus will then shift to the concept of scalar potential. Solutions involving spherical waves will be discussed. A significant portion of the section will be devoted to the concept of acoustic impedance. Energy-related aspects will also be addressed. Various applications (particularly ultrasonic ones) will be discussed.

The second “thermal” module of the EU program focuses on studying the heat transfer properties of solids and fluids under steady-state (time-independent) conditions. We begin by defining diffusive and convective heat transfer regimes and introduce Fourier’s equation, which relates the heat flux to the temperature gradient via thermal conductivity or the conductive-convective coefficient. We then derive the heat propagation equation and apply it to simple cases involving walls and pipes. We then review the main laws describing heat transfer by radiation (Planck’s law, Stefan-Boltzmann’s law) and study the case of radiative flux between two bodies under total influence. All of this knowledge will be used to perform heat balance calculations for homogeneous or composite walls, building models, bars, and fins. We will also address the case of heat exchangers.

Acoustics: Master all aspects of the physics of vibration as applied to acoustic waves (audible or ultrasonic) in order to understand current applications: nondestructive testing, microscopy, 2D and 3D medical ultrasound, elastography, etc.

Thermal Section: Master all the tools for calculating heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation, as mentioned above. Be able to apply these tools to calculate the heat balance of everyday systems: walls, pipes, buildings, fins and bars, and heat exchangers.

Concepts in mechanics, thermodynamics, and mathematics

Recommended prerequisites*: Basic knowledge of continuum mechanics and partial differential equations.

100% CT

CM: 6:00 p.m.

TD: 6:00 p.m.