Fluid flow in a dynamic mechanical model of the vocal folds and tract. I. Measurements and theory

In this study, aerodynamic and acoustic measurements were obtained in a dynamic mechanical model of the larynx and vocal tract. The model consisted of a uniform duct, intersected by a pair of sinusoidally oscillating shutters. A controlled airflow along the duct was periodically disturbed by the action of the shutters and pressure, and flow velocity measurements were obtained in the region downstream. The velocity field in the duct could be decomposed into three distinct components: a mean flow, a fluctuating acoustic particle velocity, and a fluctuating nonacoustic velocity associated with the transport of vortices along the duct at the local mean flow velocity. Two theoretical models for sound radiation from the duct exit were investigated. The first was based on the in-duct acoustic field alone and was unable to provide a realistic prediction of the measured, radiated sound field except at the first formant of the duct. In the second a simple description of sound generation due to the interaction of vortices with the duct exit was added. In this case much closer prediction of the measured values was achieved, leading to the conclusion that the interaction of the nonacoustic velocity fluctuation with the duct boundaries results in a significant additional source of acoustic energy located in the region of the duct exit.