Adaptive Wavelet and Frame Techniques for Acoustic BEM

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stephan Dahlke
• Subject Area: Mathematics
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 223613512

In BIOTOP, we will develop new methods to model 3D acoustic wave problems, especially the calculation of head related transfer functions (HRTFs), which play an important role in the localization of sound sources in 3D. Head related transfer functions describe the filtering effect of the head, the torso, and especially the outer ear (pinna) on incoming sounds and can be used to describe and simulate spatial hearing in virtual acoustics. For the simulation of acoustic problems, the boundary element method (BEM) is an important tool. Unfortunately, the matrices generated by the boundary element method are dense and their dimension grows with the wavenumber/frequency. To overcome this obstruction, we will design efficient variants of the boundary element method based on adaptive wavelet methods and the concept of frames. They will be particularly tuned to the requirements in acoustics, thus allowing an efficient computation of sound fields also for high frequencies. We will combine wavelet compression strategies with adaptive techniques and design new frames adapted to the problem at hand, and investigate the mathematical and numerical properties. BIOTOP is a multi-disciplinary project by necessity, involving mathematics, numerics and acoustical modeling. As a D-A-CH project, it combines the expertise of the research groups from Germany (adaptive schemes, regularity theory), Austria (frames, calculation of HRTFs, acoustic modeling) and Switzerland (wavelet BEM, adaptivity).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria, Switzerland
• Participating Persons: Privatdozent Dr. Peter Balazs; Professor Dr. Helmut Harbrecht; Dr. Wolfgang Kreuzer