Asymptotic modal analysis and coupled component systems

Abstract

Asymptotic modal analysis (AMA) has been developed to provide a means for understanding the response of linear dynamical systems under random excitation in the limit as the number of modes excited in a frequency bandwidth tends to infinity. Single component systems, both structural (beams, plates, etc. ) and fluid (acoustic cavities), have been studied extensively and the results compared to those obtained from classical modal analysis (CMA) and statistical energy analysis (SEA). The understanding of the advantages and limitations of AMA, CMA, and SEA, both conceptual and computational, has thereby been enhanced. The outstanding open question for AMA and SEA remains that of how to treat coupled (connected) component systems when each component and its behavior are well understood. In this presentation, such systems will be discussed and recent, as well as earlier results, summarized with a view to suggesting fruitful directions for future work. [Work supported by NASA and NSF.]