Acoustic intensity and structural power flow methods for scientific visualization

Abstract

Interpreting large data sets that result from the application of high-resolution computational and experimental methods to the solution of structural acoustics problems is a difficult, time-consuming task. The use of scientific visualization techniques expedites the process of data interpretation by condensing these large quantities of data into small packets of visual information. As generally applied, scientific visualization techniques are used to produce color coded plots of the acoustic pressure magnitude and of the structural motion. The focus of this paper is to show that the vector quantities, acoustic intensity and structural power flow, are very useful for the visualization of the complex phenomena that result when a vibrating structure interacts with its surrounding acoustic fluid. Results will be shown for applications to both two- and three-dimensional data sets resulting from the analysis of acoustic radiation from a submerged elastic shell. Algorithms for the required computations will also be given.