Customer Reviews

Theoretical Acoustics

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was lying on the bookshelf long enough, because the title " Theoretical Acoustics" did not encourage me to take it up with any commitment. I work in the field of acoustics and I had to work on the basics of Moving Sources and that was the time I picked it up to read. The material was so clearly presented, with clear reasoning, that it motivated me to read the preceeding chapters as well.The book is very clearly written and presented. It assumes no acoustic or vibration background for the reader. The subject is built up step-by-step without comprimising on either physics or mathematics. The treatment of the subject starts with basic vibration theory, without which any further development in Acoustics is impossible and then introduces the Wave Equation. It proceeds with Radiation and Scattering of sound. This is highly relevant from the view of scattering of submarines, hulls etc., among other applications. More advanced treatment on how sound waves behave in ducts and rooms is presented. The section on structural acoustic coupling is very well presented. The entire book assumes that one has a sufficent background on fundamentals of differential equations and maths in general. If one has a flair for maths, then this is the book for acoustics. Treatment is complete with sufficient physical insight provided into the equations. This book is a must for acousticians and researchers in acoustics. An excellent work by one of the most regarded reserchers in the area of applied and theortical mathematics.

I bought this book for two reasons: 1) I was beginning some experiments with ultrasonics, and I wanted a "handbook" of sorts. 2) In addition to these experiments, I was wondering if I could attempt some Finite Element modelling, and I needed a book that could help me translate stress-strain data to acoustics.

For #1, I was somewhat disappointed, but it's my fault. This book is a dense, theoretical exploration of the topic of acoustics. It's first principles, through and through. It is not a quick reference handbook, not really a book you can flip through and say "oh... yes. I'll have to remember that." I was hoping for some detailed examples, but instead I've gotten more than I ever asked for. In some ways, I suppose this can be a good thing, but in others, it isn't.

For #2, I found everything I need to know in the first 6 pages. Really. Start with F = d/dt(mv) and go from there (I suppose F = ma just doesn't look complicated enough). After that, the book is already into Bessel functions in 1000 words or less.

I was really hoping for a page somewhere that said: Maxwell's Equations for Acoustics (complete with analogies between E&M and acoustics). I didn't find it. Maxwell's Equations are mentioned on page 799-800, on a mathematical assault of "magnetoacoustic waves".

This book is a lot like John David Jackson's "Classical Electrodynamics". It is *the* book, the comprehensive book, the one that all of the graduate students regard with an uncomfortable mixture of deep respect and dread. This dense, heavy book is good for slapping somebody around, both literally and figuratively. Reading through the book makes me wonder how in the heck I ever got a Ph.D. when there were people out there writng books like this. I can't give it 5 stars because I don't see how anyone can get anything out of the book without devoting half of their life to it, but I give it at least 4 stars because it's more than a person will ever need to know about acoustics. It's a masterpiece, but not practical for the scientist looking for a good reference text.

I am constantly amazed by this remarkable book. It remains a topical reference for theoretical methods in acoustics, despite the advent of computational methods that allow modern acousticians to solve models on their desktop. I recently had the job of reviewing a patent for an acoustic transducer -- and sure enough I found this "modern" idea in good-ol' Morse and Ingard. In my opinion it is a must.

Overall the depth of this text is exceptional. Morse and Ingard's greatest strength is their skill at explaining the physics behind the mathematics in appropriate terms: with simple expositions when possible, but with unapologetic complexity when that is what is required to properly and precisely motivate a discussion. Exercises provided at the end of each chapter are usually challenging without being so difficult they end up discouraging the student.

Unfortunately the authors' precision is not matched by this edition's typesetters. A single errata page is included on one of the front leaves, but as the reader goes through the text he or she will quickly realize that it is littered with typesetting errors. An accurate and comprehensive list of errata would cover much more than a single page. In some cases the printers have scribbled in corrections by hand. Equation and section number references are also sometimes incorrect. Previous hardcover editions don't seem to have these issues. If you can find one, you're better off paying a few extra dollars to get it. In no way is this edition suitable as an assigned textbook for a university acoustics course, although it's invaluable a secondary reference.