Acoustic impedance

Acoustic impedance and specific acoustic impedance Z(ω) def F[p](ω)

= F[R](ω) = ,
are measures of the opposition that a system presents to F[Q](ω)
the acoustic flow resulting of an acoustic pressure applied def 1[ ( −1 ) ]
to the system. The SI unit of acoustic impedance is the Z(t) = Ra (t) = 2 pa ∗ Q a
(t),
3
pascal second per cubic metre (Pa·s/m ) or the rayl per
where
square metre (rayl/m2 ), while that of specific acoustic
impedance is the pascal second per metre (Pa·s/m) or the
rayl.[1] In this article the symbol rayl denotes the MKS • L is the Laplace transform operator;
rayl. There is a close analogy with electrical impedance, • F is the Fourier transform operator;
which measures the opposition that a system presents to
the electrical flow resulting of an electrical voltage ap- • subscript “a” is the analytic representation operator;
plied to the system.
• Q −1 is the convolution inverse of Q.

Acoustic resistance, denoted R, and acoustic reactance,

1 Mathematical definitions denoted X, are the real part and imaginary part of acoustic
impedance respectively:
1.1 Acoustic impedance
For a linear time-invariant system, the relationship be- Z(s) = R(s) + iX(s),
tween the acoustic pressure applied to the system and the
resulting acoustic volume flow rate through a surface per- Z(ω) = R(ω) + iX(ω),
pendicular to the direction of that pressure at its point of Z(t) = R(t) + iX(t),
application is given by
where

p(t) = [R ∗ Q](t), • i is the imaginary unit;

or equivalently by • in Z(s), R(s) is not the Laplace transform of the time

domain acoustic resistance R(t), Z(s) is;
• in Z(ω), R(ω) is not the Fourier transform of the
Q(t) = [G ∗ p](t),
time domain acoustic resistance R(t), Z(ω) is;
where • in Z(t), R(t) is the time domain acoustic resistance
and X(t) is the Hilbert transform of the time domain
• p is the acoustic pressure; acoustic resistance R(t), according to the definition
• Q is the acoustic volume flow rate; of the analytic representation.

• ∗ is the convolution operator; Inductive acoustic reactance, denoted XL, and capac-
• R is the acoustic resistance in the time domain; itive acoustic reactance, denoted XC, are the positive
part and negative part of acoustic reactance respectively:
• G = R −1 is the acoustic conductance in the time
domain (R −1 is the convolution inverse of R).
X(s) = XL (s) − XC (s),
Acoustic impedance, denoted Z, is the Laplace trans-
form, or the Fourier transform, or the analytic represen- X(ω) = XL (ω) − XC (ω),
tation of time domain acoustic resistance:[1] X(t) = XL (t) − XC (t).
Acoustic admittance, denoted Y, is the Laplace trans-
def L[p](s) form, or the Fourier transform, or the analytic represen-
Z(s) = L[R](s) = , tation of time domain acoustic conductance:[1]
L[Q](s)

1
2 1 MATHEMATICAL DEFINITIONS

1.2 Specific acoustic impedance

def 1 L[Q](s) For a linear time-invariant system, the relationship be-
Y (s) = L[G](s) = = ,
Z(s) L[p](s) tween the acoustic pressure applied to the system and the
resulting particle velocity in the direction of that pressure
def 1 F[Q](ω) at its point of application is given by
Y (ω) = F[G](ω) = = ,
Z(ω) F[p](ω)

def 1[ ( )]
Y (t) = Ga (t) = Z −1 (t) = Qa ∗ p−1 a (t), p(t) = [r ∗ v](t),
2
where or equivalently by:

• Z −1 is the convolution inverse of Z;

v(t) = [g ∗ p](t),
• p −1
is the convolution inverse of p. where

Acoustic conductance, denoted G, and acoustic suscep- • p is the acoustic pressure;

tance, denoted B, are the real part and imaginary part of
acoustic admittance respectively: • v is the particle velocity;
• r is the specific acoustic resistance in the time do-
main;
Y (s) = G(s) + iB(s),
• g = r −1 is the specific acoustic conductance in the
Y (ω) = G(ω) + iB(ω), time domain (r −1 is the convolution inverse of r).

Y (t) = G(t) + iB(t), Specific acoustic impedance, denoted z is the Laplace

transform, or the Fourier transform, or the analytic rep-
where resentation of time domain specific acoustic resistance:[1]

• in Y(s), G(s) is not the Laplace transform of the time

domain acoustic conductance G(t), Y(s) is; def L[p](s)
z(s) = L[r](s) = ,
L[v](s)
• in Y(ω), G(ω) is not the Fourier transform of the
time domain acoustic conductance G(t), Y(ω) is; def F[p](ω)
z(ω) = F[r](ω) = ,
F[v](ω)
• in Y(t), G(t) is the time domain acoustic conduc- def 1[ ( −1 ) ]
tance and B(t) is the Hilbert transform of the time z(t) = ra (t) = 2 pa ∗ v a
(t),
domain acoustic conductance G(t), according to the
where v −1 is the convolution inverse of v.
definition of the analytic representation.
Specific acoustic resistance, denoted r, and specific
acoustic reactance, denoted x, are the real part and
Acoustic resistance represents the energy transfer of an
imaginary part of specific acoustic impedance respec-
acoustic wave. The pressure and motion are in phase, so
tively:
work is done on the medium ahead of the wave.
Acoustic reactance represents, as well, the pressure that
is out of phase with the motion and causes no average en- z(s) = r(s) + ix(s),
ergy transfer. For example, a closed bulb connected to
an organ pipe will have air moving into it and pressure, z(ω) = r(ω) + ix(ω),
but they are out of phase so no net energy is transmitted
into it. While the pressure rises, air moves in, and while z(t) = r(t) + ix(t),
it falls, it moves out, but the average pressure when the where
air moves in is the same as that when it moves out, so the
power flows back and forth but with no time averaged en- • in z(s), r(s) is not the Laplace transform of the time
ergy transfer. The electrical analogy for this is a capacitor domain specific acoustic resistance r(t), z(s) is;
connected across a power line. Current flows through the
capacitor but it is out of phase with the voltage, so no net • in z(ω), r(ω) is not the Fourier transform of the time
power is transmitted into it. domain specific acoustic resistance r(t), z(ω) is;
1.3 Relationship 3

• in z(t), r(t) is the time domain specific acoustic re- 1.3 Relationship
sistance and x(t) is the Hilbert transform of the time
domain specific acoustic resistance r(t), according A one dimensional wave passing through an aperture with
to the definition of the analytic representation. area A is now considered. The acoustic volume flow rate
Q is the volume of medium passing per second through
Specific inductive acoustic reactance, denoted xL, and the aperture. If the acoustic flow moves a distance dx =
specific capacitive acoustic reactance, denoted xC, are v dt, then the volume of medium passing through is dV =
the positive part and negative part of specific acoustic re- A dx, so
actance respectively:

dV dx
x(s) = xL (s) − xC (s), Q= =A = Av.
dt dt
x(ω) = xL (ω) − xC (ω), Provided that the wave is only one-dimensional, it yields
x(t) = xL (t) − xC (t).
Specific acoustic admittance, denoted y, is the Laplace
L[p](s) L[p](s) z(s)
transform, or the Fourier transform, or the analytic repre- Z(s) = = = ,
sentation of time domain specific acoustic conductance:[1] L[Q](s) AL[v](s) A
F[p](ω) F[p](ω) z(ω)
Z(ω) = = = ,
def 1 L[v](s) F[Q](ω) AF[v](ω) A
y(s) = L[g](s) = = , [ ( −1 ) ]
z(s) L[p](s) 1[ ( −1 ) ] 1 v z(t)
Z(t) = pa ∗ Q (t) = pa ∗ (t) = .
def 1 F[v](ω) 2 a 2 A a A
y(ω) = F[g](ω) = = ,
z(ω) F[p](ω)
def 1[ ( )]
y(t) = ga (t) = z −1 (t) = va ∗ p−1 a (t), 2 Characteristic acoustic
2
where impedance
• z −1 is the convolution inverse of z;
2.1 Characteristic specific acoustic
• p −1 is the convolution inverse of p. impedance
Specific acoustic conductance, denoted g, and specific
The constitutive law of nondispersive linear acoustics
acoustic susceptance, denoted b, are the real part and
in one dimension gives a relation between stress and
imaginary part of specific acoustic admittance respec-
strain:[1]
tively:

y(s) = g(s) + ib(s),
y(ω) = g(ω) + ib(ω),
y(t) = g(t) + ib(t),
where
• in y(s), g(s) is not the Laplace transform of the time
domain acoustic conductance g(t), y(s) is;
• in y(ω), g(ω) is not the Fourier transform of the time
domain acoustic conductance g(t), y(ω) is;
• in y(t), g(t) is the time domain acoustic conductance
and b(t) is the Hilbert transform of the time domain
acoustic conductance g(t), according to the defini-
tion of the analytic representation.
Specific acoustic impedance z is an intensive property of
a particular medium: for instance, the z of air or of water
can be specified. Whereas acoustic impedance Z is an
extensive property of a particular medium and geometry:
for instance, the Z of a particular duct filled with air can
be discussed.
∂δ
p = −ρc2 ,
∂x
where
• p is the acoustic pressure in the medium;
• ρ is the volumetric mass density of the medium;
• c is the speed of the sound waves traveling in the
medium;
• δ is the particle displacement;
• x is the space variable along the direction of propa-
gation of the sound waves.
This equation is valid both for fluids and solids. In
• fluids, ρc2 = K (K stands for the bulk modulus);
• solids, ρc2 = K + 4/3 G (G stands for the shear
modulus) for longitudinal waves and ρc2 = G for
transverse waves.
4 2 CHARACTERISTIC ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE

Newton’s second law applied locally in the medium gives

z0 = ρc.
2
∂ δ ∂p
ρ =− . The equations also show that
∂t2 ∂x
Combining this equation with the previous one yields the
one-dimensional wave equation: p(r, t)
= ±ρc = ±z0 .
v(r, t)
z0 varies greatly among media, especially between gas
∂2δ 2
2∂ δ
= c . and condensed phases. Water is 800 times denser than
∂t2 ∂x2 air and its speed of sound is 4.3 times as fast as that of
The plane waves air. So the specific acoustic impedance of water is 3,500
times higher than that of air. This means that a sound
in water with a given pressure amplitude is 3,500 times
δ(r, t) = δ(x, t) less intense than one in air with the same pressure. This
is because the air, with its lower z0 , moves with a much
that are solutions of this wave equation are composed of greater velocity and displacement amplitude than does
the sum of two progressive plane waves traveling along x water. Reciprocally, if a sound in water and another in air
with the same speed and in opposite ways: have the same intensity, then the pressure is much smaller
in air. These variations lead to important differences be-
tween room acoustics or atmospheric acoustics on the one
hand, and underwater acoustics on the other.
δ(r, t) = f (x − ct) + g(x + ct)
Besides, temperature acts on speed of sound and mass
from which can be derived density and thus on specific acoustic impedance.

∂δ [ ] 2.2 Characteristic acoustic impedance

v(r, t) = (r, t) = −c f ′ (x − ct) − g ′ (x + ct) ,
∂t
For a one dimensional wave passing through an aperture
∂δ [ ′ ]
p(r, t) = −ρc 2
(r, t) = −ρc f (x−ct)+g (x+ct) . with area A, Z = z/A, so if the wave is a progressive plane
2 ′
∂x wave, then
For progressive plane waves
ρc
{ Z(r, s) = ± ,
A
p(r, t) = −ρc2 f ′ (x − ct)
ρc
v(r, t) = −c f ′ (x − ct) Z(r, ω) = ± ,
A
or ρc
Z(r, t) = ± .
A
{ The absolute value of this acoustic impedance is often
p(r, t) = −ρc2 g ′ (x + ct) called characteristic acoustic impedance and denoted
v(r, t) = c g ′ (x + ct). Z 0 :[1]

Finally, the specific acoustic impedance z is

ρc
Z0 = .
A
L[p](r, s) Similarly to the characteristic specific acoustic
z(r, s) = = ±ρc,
L[v](r, s) impedance,

F[p](r, ω)
z(r, ω) = = ±ρc,
F[v](r, ω) p(r, t) ρc
= ± = ±Z0 .
1[ ( )] Q(r, t) A
z(r, t) = pa ∗ v −1 a (r, t) = ±ρc.
2 If the aperture with area A is the start of a pipe and a plane
The absolute value of this specific acoustic impedance is wave is sent into the pipe, the wave passing through the
often called characteristic specific acoustic impedance aperture is a progressive plane wave in the absence of re-
and denoted z0 :[1] flections. There are usually reflections from the other end
 5

of the pipe, whether open or closed, so there is a sum of

waves travelling from one end to the other. The reflec-
tions and resultant standing waves are very important in
musical wind instruments. It is possible to have no reflec-
tions when the pipe is very long, because it then takes a
long time for the reflected waves to return and, when it
does, they are much attenuated by losses at the wall.

3 See also
• Acoustic attenuation

• Impedance analogy
• Acoustic ohm

• Earthquake bomb

4 References
[1] Kinsler, Lawrence; Frey, Austin; Coppens, Alan; Sanders,
James (2000). Fundamentals of Acoustics. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-84789-5.

5 External links
• What Is Acoustic Impedance and Why Is It Impor-
tant?
• The Wave Equation for Sound
6 6 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

6 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

6.1 Text
• Acoustic impedance Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_impedance?oldid=741239984 Contributors: Charles Matthews, Hy-
acinth, Omegatron, Bobblewik, Eric Kvaalen, H2g2bob, Gene Nygaard, Tedder, David R. Ingham, PrologFan, Witger, Rwalker, Fang
Aili, SmackBot, AndreasJS, ExaminerAMD, Bluebot, Ron E, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Berland, Mwtoews, Vina-iwbot~enwiki,
Jaganath, BillFlis, Thijs!bot, RichardVeryard, Oreo Priest, Nikevich, Emh203, CardinalDan, Mlewis000, Kychot, Voorlandt, Michael
J White, McM.bot, Spinningspark, Thunderbird2, Thin Smek, Darrenhendrie, Jdaloner, Snaxalotl, Pgj98r, MickMacNee, Mlaffs, Stat-
icshakedown, ResponseDynamics, Cmfuen, RyanCross, Addbot, SpillingBot, Yobot, TaBOT-zerem, AnomieBOT, Rubinbot, 4e to 4e,
Wurzelpeter, Maggyero, DixonDBot, RjwilmsiBot, EmausBot, Dondervogel 2, Redav, ClueBot NG, Liragomes, Grant.buffett, Strider67,
My name is not dave, Rameshwar kaspate, OriolusStudio, San0wong and Anonymous: 62

6.2 Images

6.3 Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0