Acoustics
The Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering has supported a strong concentration in the research area of Acoustics for more than five decades. The foundation of this program of work is a sequence of nine graduate courses. Four courses cover the fundamentals of theoretical acoustics: two courses on physical acoustics, one on nonlinear acoustics, and one on advanced topics in acoustic wave phenomena. The other five courses cover traditional and emerging areas of applied acoustics: acoustical transducers, underwater acoustics, architectural acoustics, ultrasonics, and acoustic metamaterials.
These nine courses are supplemented by a diverse range of acoustics-related courses throughout not just the Cockrell School of Engineering but also the Jackson School of Geosciences, the College of Communication, and the College of Fine Arts, which may be found at Courses in Acoustics.
The faculty in Acoustics perform research on problems of both a basic and applied nature in physical acoustics, engineering acoustics, and ocean acoustics. Research is conducted on modeling and experimental evaluation of acoustic and elastic wave propagation, scattering, and diffraction in complex media that include metamaterials, composite materials, nonlinear media, and multiphase media such as marine sediments and bubbly media in the context of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound and underwater acoustics.
Graduate Research Specialty in Acoustics
Students pursuing a graduate degree in mechanical engineering may choose to specialize in Acoustics as a primary area of study.