A hybrid wave and finite element/boundary element method for predicting the vibroacoustic characteristics of finite-width complex structures

This paper presents a hybrid wave and finite element/boundary element method for predicting the vibroacoustic characteristics of complex panels characterised by an irregular cross-sectional shape with a non-flat upper surface. In this approach, the panels are treated as waveguides and only a small segment of the panel is modelled using finite elements. The mass and stiffness matrices of the segment are then post-processed to project the motion onto its cross-sectional boundaries interfacing with the surrounding fluids. The acoustic pressures in the fluids are modelled by applying Fourier transforms to the Helmholtz boundary integral equations in the wavenumber domain. For each wavenumber component, the pressures acting on the segment are transformed into external nodal forces by evaluating the virtual work performed by the surface pressure on the segment. The wave and finite element formulations are subsequently coupled to the discretised boundary integral equations to determine the response of the panel to acoustic wave excitation. The hybrid method for predicting dispersion curves and sound transmission is validated through comparisons with predictions obtained from both an analytical model and a wave-based method found in the literature. To demonstrate the practical utility of the approach, the hybrid method is employed to predict sound transmission through a corrugated sandwich panel, where developing an analytical model is difficult. The method provides accurate predictions at a low computational cost.