Acoustic design sensitivity for structural radiators

An analysis technique termed acoustic design sensitivity (ADS) analysis is developed on the basis of the boundary element method formulation of the Helmholtz integral equation. It is shown that the ADS analysis provides a numerical technique to quantify the change in the radiated power from a structure due to incremental changes in the surface velocity over portions of the structure's surface. This information can be used for the placement of active noise control sources on existing structures, and for the analysis of structures during the design phase. The technique is applied to analyze a rectangular box, with one face vibrating in a structural mode, and a right-circular cylinder vibrating in a longitudinal and in a radial mode.