ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the basic theory underpinning various numerical analysis techniques and discusses the use of commercially available software and free software for solving complex sound radiation and transmission problems. It looks at the difference in analysis approached between low frequency and high frequency problems and examines Rayleigh Integral Analysis. The chapter presents boundary element method and explores statistical energy analysis. The boundary element method only involves discretising the boundary of an enclosed space or the boundary of a noise radiating structure. The Rayleigh integral method involves evaluating the integral of the surface velocity of the object to calculate the radiated sound power. Finite element analysis is a numerical method that can be used to calculate the response of a complex structure due to the application of forcing functions, which could be an acoustic field or a distribution of mechanical forces. Formulation of acoustic elements is based on nodal displacements and these elements are based on standard structural elements.
