Analysis of sound propagation through a binary mixture of rarefied gases via equations of continuum mechanics

Abstract

The aim of this project is to develop a theoretical study of the problem of sound propagation through a binary mixture of monoatomic rarefied gases via equations of continuum mechanics (Navier-Stokes, Fourier and Fick), which are the basis of the classical theory of sound propagation in gases. The macroscopic characteristics of the gaseous mixture, e.g. density and temperature deviations from its corresponding values in the equilibrium state, hydrodynamic velocity, etc., induced by the sound waves will be determined in a wide range of sound frequency and Knudsen number, defined as the ratio between the mean free path and a characteristic length of the gaseous system and characterizes the degree of gas rarefaction. The results obtained will be compared to those obtained via numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation, as well as experimental data obtained in the literature.