Extension and reformulation of statistical energy analysis with use of room acoustics concepts

Abstract

A brief review of statistical energy analysis (SEA) is presented. It is argued that the old form of SEA describes the reverberant behavior of the complex only. Indeed, the old form of SEA requires that the complex be composed exclusively of highly reverberant basic dynamic systems. Room acoustics concepts are used in proposing an extension of SEA that would relieve it of this requirement. The distinction between a reverberant and a non-reverberant dynamic system is rendered definable by the extension. A reformulation of SEA is proposed, again relying on room acoustics concepts, that transcends the extended SEA; e.g., the condition that the coupling between the basic dynamic systems need be conservative is relaxed. Moreover, the reformulation is bound to foster better understanding of the fundamental concepts of SEA, and, thus, would encourage wider acceptance and deployment of SEA.