An exact method for analysing sound reflection and transmission by anisotropic laminates submerged in fluids

An exact method is presented for analysing the reflection and transmission of sound waves by anisotropic laminates submerged in fluids. A matrix formu lation for the submerged laminate, which can have a stack of an arbitrary n umber of anisotropic layers, subject to a plane sound wave is derived to ob tain the reflection and transmission coefficients in the frequency domain. The coupling between the fluid and laminate is taken into account in a rigo rous manner. Numerical results of the method are compared with ones from ot her methods as examples and very good agreement is observed. The present me thod is useful for designing layered structures for acoustic systems. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.