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Virginia Tech

The Use of Schwarz-Christoffel Transformations in Determining Acoustic Resonances

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this thesis, we set out to provide an enhanced set of techniques for determining the eigenvalues of the Laplacian in polygonal domains. Currently, finite-element methods provide a numerical means by which we can approximate these eigenvalues with ease. However, we would like a more analytic method which may allow us to avoid a basic parameter sweep in finite-element software such as COMSOL to determine what could possibly be an "optimal" distribution of eigenvalues. The hope is that this would allow us to draw conclusions about the acoustic quality of a pentagonally-shaped room. First, we find the eigenvalues using a common finite-element method through COMSOL Multiphysics. We then examine another method which makes use of conformal maps and Schwarz-Christoffel transformations with the prospect that it might provide a more analytic understanding of the calculation of these eigenvalues and possibly allow for variation of certain parameters. This method, as far as we could find, had not yet been developed on the pentagon. We end up carrying this method through nearly all of the steps necessary in finding these eigenvalues. We find that the finite-element method is not only easier to use, but is also more efficient in terms of computing power.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mathematics
Department dc:contributor.department
Mathematics
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Lanz, Colleen B.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Rogers, Robert C.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Borggaard, Jeffrey T.
  • Lin, Tao

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-07082010-083729
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33933

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Lanz, Colleen B.. The Use of Schwarz-Christoffel Transformations in Determining Acoustic Resonances. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33933