Structural-acoustic coupling in complex shaped cavities

Structural-acoustic interaction is a topic of increasing interest in the study of vehicle noise control. During recent years particular attention has been devoted towards analytical and numerical methods for the analysis of acoustic problems of complex shaped cavities. Among them non-local methods are very appropriate for the low and medium frequency range. The integral formulation of the Helmholtz equation allows the sound pressure level, radiated by a vibrating panel, to be determined. The method may be used to account for the acoustic structural coupling and can be straightforwardly extended to consider interconnected cavities, internal vibrating panels, internal barriers and absorbing materials. Comparisons with experimental results as well as with modal methods are presented which show satisfactory agreement.