vibroacoustics

Vibroacoustics is the study of the interaction between mechanical vibrations and acoustic fields, typically in air or other fluids. It concerns how vibrating structures generate sound, how surrounding media transmit and reflect acoustic energy, and how acoustic pressure in turn affects structural response. The field encompasses vibration analysis, acoustic radiation, and the coupling between solid and fluid domains. Key concepts include vibration modes, radiation efficiency, acoustic impedance, and transmission or reflection through boundaries. It underpins noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) engineering and the design of quiet, durable systems.

Experimental and numerical methods are used to characterize and predict vibroacoustic behavior. Measurements commonly employ accelerometers, laser Doppler vibrometry, and microphones to quantify vibrations and sound pressure. Techniques such as transfer path analysis and modal analysis link sources to radiated noise. Modeling approaches include finite element methods for structural dynamics, boundary element methods for acoustic radiation, and statistical energy analysis for high-frequency or large systems. Coupled vibroacoustic simulations may combine multiple scales and domains to estimate sound power, transmission loss, and radiated spectra.

Applications span automotive and aerospace quietness, machinery noise control, consumer electronics, building acoustics, and musical instrument design. Strategies include passive measures like damping, insulation, and isolation, as well as active control methods that inject anti-noise or counter-vibrations. Vibroacoustics also informs fatigue assessment and durability by predicting vibroacoustic loading. Ongoing research addresses multi-physics coupling, broadband noise reduction, and accurate prediction of low-frequency behavior in complex assemblies.