Analytical model for the wave propagation velocity in a fluid-coupled membrane (L)

An analytical expression is derived to calculate the wave propagation velocity in a fluid-coupled membrane. Starting from the equation of motion, a dispersion relation is obtained in the form of a sixth-order polynomial. An effective, i.e., fluid-loaded, wave speed is identified, and its dependence on structural and fluid parameters is established. An experimental validation on two membranes is finally presented. The model could be useful for applications in musical or structural acoustics.