To understand sound propagation and beam formation, the physical properties of soft tissues from the biosonar system of odontocetes should be explored. Based on the acoustic impedance distributions of biosonar systems...To understand sound propagation and beam formation, the physical properties of soft tissues from the biosonar system of odontocetes should be explored. Based on the acoustic impedance distributions of biosonar systems, these processes have been examined via numerical simulations. In this study, the images of a short-beaked common dolphin(Delphinus delphis) were obtained via computed tomography. Then, the dolphin was dissected to extract tissue samples for additional examination. In addition to the speed of sound and density measurements, the acoustic attenuation coefficients of the biosonar system in the forehead were tested. The results revealed that the inner layer of the forehead was characterized using low sound speed, low density, and high attenuation. Acoustic fields and beam patterns were then evaluated by setting acoustic attenuation coefficients at different levels. Sounds propagating along the low-attenuation path had a lesser reduction in amplitude. Beam directivities in near and far fields suggested that changes in attenuation distribution would cause beam patterns to shift. These results indicated the complexity of a dolphin’s sonar emission system and helped improve our understanding of sound energy attenuation via studies on the forehead of odontocetes.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFC1407504, and 2018YFC1407505)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12074323)+3 种基金Special Fund for Marine and Fishery Development of Xiamen (Grant No.20CZB015HJ01)Water Conservancy Science and Technology Innovation Project of Guangdong (Grant No. 2020-16)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2020M682086)China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents (Grant No. BX2021168)。
文摘To understand sound propagation and beam formation, the physical properties of soft tissues from the biosonar system of odontocetes should be explored. Based on the acoustic impedance distributions of biosonar systems, these processes have been examined via numerical simulations. In this study, the images of a short-beaked common dolphin(Delphinus delphis) were obtained via computed tomography. Then, the dolphin was dissected to extract tissue samples for additional examination. In addition to the speed of sound and density measurements, the acoustic attenuation coefficients of the biosonar system in the forehead were tested. The results revealed that the inner layer of the forehead was characterized using low sound speed, low density, and high attenuation. Acoustic fields and beam patterns were then evaluated by setting acoustic attenuation coefficients at different levels. Sounds propagating along the low-attenuation path had a lesser reduction in amplitude. Beam directivities in near and far fields suggested that changes in attenuation distribution would cause beam patterns to shift. These results indicated the complexity of a dolphin’s sonar emission system and helped improve our understanding of sound energy attenuation via studies on the forehead of odontocetes.