Hot topics in structural acoustics and vibrations

Abstract

Much of the current effort in structural acoustics and vibrations is devoted to improving the accuracy and efficiency with which analytical/computational methods, such as boundary elements, finite elements, variational principles, and approximate decoupling procedures, model the interaction between structural response and the acoustics field in radiation and scattering problems. A related area addresses the same questions in the high-frequency regime, where the wavelike nature of the dynamic response seems to dictate a fundamental change in the basic analytical tools. Interest in the mechanisms of energy exchange is shared by research into the response of nonhomogeneous structures (ribs and other stiffening members) in the presence of external and fluid flow. Active control of vibration and acoustic radiation and through open and/or closed loop control strategies has been of extreme interest for a long time. “Smart materials and structures” uses sensors and actuators embedded in structural components in order to actively alter the system properties. Continued progress in these areas will be expedited by continued development of near-field acoustic holography and laser Doppler velocimetry, which permit noninvasive measurement of the vibration of submerged structures. This paper will present brief summaries of the current work in each of these areas.