Numerical Analysis of Structure Acoustic Radiation Based on Wave Superposition Method

Abstract

Abstract. To overcome the non-uniqueness of solution at eigenfrequencies in the boundary integral equation method for structural acoustic radiation, wave superposition method is introduced to study the acoustics characteristics including acoustic field reconstruction and sound power calculation. The numerical method is implemented by using the acoustic field from a series of virtual sources which are collocated near the boundary surface to replace the acoustic field of the radiator, namely the principle of equivalent. How to collocate these equivalent sources is not indicated definitely. Once wave superposition method is applied to sound power calculation, it is necessary to evaluate its accuracy and impact factors. In the paper, the basic principle of wave superposition method is described, and then the integral equation is discretized. Also, the impact factors including element numbers, frequency limitation, and distance between virtual source and integral surface are analyzed in the process of calculate the acoustic radiation from the simply supported thin plate under concentrated force. The extensive measures of acoustic field at the thin plate are compared with results obtain using different numerical methods. The results show that: (a) The agreement between the results from the above numerical methods is excellent. The wave superposition method requires fewer elements and hence is faster. But the extensive numerical modeling suggests that as long as 1 ka ≤ the volume velocity matching yields more than adequate accuracy. (b) The equivalent sources should be collocated inside the radiator. And the accuracy of a given Gauss integration formula will decrease as the source approaches the boundary surface. (c) The numerical method is applicable to the acoustic radiation of structure with complicated shape. (d) The method described in this paper can be used to perform effectively sound power calculation, and its application range can be extended on the basis of these conclusions.