Numerical vibroacoustic analysis of multi-layered composite structure under hygrothermal loading using coupled FEM-IBEM micromechanical model

Abstract

The vibroacoustic responses of multi-layer composite shallow shell panels subjected to harmonic mechanical excitation in hygrothermal environment is numerically investigated. A homogenized micromechanical finite element (FE) based on the higher-order mid-plane kinematics replicating quadratic function as well as the through the thickness stretching effect together with the indirect boundary element (IBE) scheme has been first time employed. The isoparametric Lagrangian element with zero-order Hermitian interpolation function (10 degrees of freedom per node) is used for structural model discretization to attain the hygro-thermo-elastic natural frequencies via Hamilton’s principle. The uniqueness of the model is the incorporation of the effective material properties under combined hygrothermal loading via a micromechanics approach. An IBE method is then implemented to attain structure-surrounding coupling and the Helmholtz wave equation is solved to compute the sound radiation responses. The effectiveness of the model is tested by converging it with the similar analytical/numerical results as well as the experimentally acquired data for vibrational as well as acoustic responses. The present scheme is further hold out for solving diverse numerical illustrations. The geometrical parameters, volume fraction of fiber, layup, and support conditions alongside the hygrothermal load is found to have significant influence on the hygro-thermo-acoustic characteristics. The functional inferences will assist in designing the imminent multi-layered structures that serve under the influence of severe hygrothermal loading during high-performance engineering applications.