Boundary element models of the vocal tract and radiation field and their response characteristics

Abstract Accurate vocal tract models become increasingly important for the investigation of speech analysis, synthesis and identification. The geometrical configuration of the vocal tract is determined by the position of the vocal tract's wall in association with the movement of the jaws and the mouth. One-dimensional models cannot provide the direct correspondence of the geometrical shape with its acoustical characteristic properly, taking the wall impedance and the end conditions into account. The vocal tract is a bent tube, and sound radiates to the outer space from the mouth opening. Here we demonstrate more realistic three-dimensional models of the vocal tract and the head made of boundary elements. The vocal tract's transmission responses and the sound field around the head are discussed separately, showing the capability of the boundary element models.