Application of Energy Flow Methods for Vibroacoustic Analysis

In the high frequency domain, numerical solutions of vibroacoustic problems are typically performed using energy methods. Methods based on Energy Flow Analysis have found more applications in recent times since these methods are derived from widely used discretization methods such as Finite Element Method (FEM) and Boundary Element Method (BEM). In the present study, vibration analysis of a box structure is performed using Energy Finite Element Method (EFEM) and the numerical results are compared to experimental measurements. BEM is inherently well suited for acoustic analysis since it requires only the modeling of the surface of the vibrating domains. Additionally, it naturally satisfies the far field radiation conditions. In the present development, integral equations based on energy flow concepts are utilized for the analysis of high frequency acoustic radiation problems. An acoustic analysis is performed using Energy Boundary Element Method (EBEM) using the data obtained from the vibration analysis to predict radiated noise at selected locations. These results are compared to measured sound pressure levels to demonstrate the applicability of EFA methods for the solutions of both vibration and acoustic problems.