The finite layer method (FLM) is presented as a discretisation technique for the computation of noise transmission through double walls. It combines a finite element method (FEM) discretisation in the direction perpendicular to the wall with trigonometric functions in the two in-plane directions. It is used for solving the Helmholtz equation at the cavity inside the double wall, while the wall leaves are modelled with the thin plate equation and solved with modal analysis. Other approaches to this problem are described here (and adapted where needed) in order to compare them with the FLM. They range from impedance models of the double wall behaviour to different numerical methods for solving the Helmholtz equation in the cavity. For the examples simulated in this work (impact noise and airborne sound transmission), the former are less accurate than the latter at low frequencies. The main advantage of FLM over the other discretisation techniques is the possibility of extending it to multilayered structures without changing the interpolation functions and with an affordable computational cost. This potential is illustrated with a calculation of the noise transmission through a multilayered structure: a double wall partially filled with absorbing material.

Vibration transmission through structural connections is modelled in a deterministic way by means of modal analysis. This model is used first to study the effect of elastic joints across the floor in the transmission of impact noise. They are an effective means of reducing impact noise propagation, and can almost eliminate it for small values of the joint stiffness. The method is also used to study the acoustic relevance of studs in lightweight floor transmission. Different ways of modelling the studs are presented and compared. For the examples developed, the best option is to use springs for modelling the studs rather than more complex models involving springs and beams. Also the different behaviour of point and line connections is verified, as well as the influence of the position of the studs.

An automatic methodology for identifying SEA (statistical energy analysis) subsystems within a vibroacoustic system is presented. It consists in dividing the system into cells and grouping them into subsystems via a hierarchical cluster analysis based on the problem eigenmodes. The subsystem distribution corresponds to the optimal grouping of the cells, which is defined in terms of the correlation distance between them. The main advantages of this methodology are its automatic performance and its applicability both to vibratory and vibroacoustic systems. Moreover, the method allows the definition of more than one subsystem in the same geometrical region when required. This is the case of eigenmodes with a very different mechanical response (e.g. out-of-plane or in-plane vibration in shells).

A study on the optimal procedure for obtaining SEA (statistical energy analysis) coupling loss factors (CLF) numerically is presented. The energies of a SEA system with two subsystems (one excited, the other one unexcited) are obtained from deterministic numerical simulations. Three different ways of isolating the CLF are explored: from the power balance of the excited subsystem (first approach) or the unexcited subsystem (second approach) and from the power transmitted through the connection (third approach). An error propagation analysis shows that the first approach is unreliable and that the second approach is the best option. As application examples, the CLF between some typical building structures is computed. These examples illustrate the potential of the estimated CLFs to solve larger problems with SEA and show the influence of the type of excitation on the coupling loss factor estimation. Finally, a simplified technique to account for the effect of studs in double walls with SEA is presented.