ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the basic concepts of the method of statistical energy analysis (SEA) and presents
its application to structures. The analysis and computation techniques for vibration response and
radiating sound in instruments and structures vary according to the characteristics of the physical
object and the frequency range of interest. Here, we analyze vibration and noise in relation to a rather
large-scale structure over a wide frequency band. Extensive computations are usually required, when,
for example, the finite element method is used for the computations, with respect to a given oscillation
mode. In particular, when the computations must be performed in the high-frequency range and when
many modes are included in the frequency band, the level of computation becomes considerable,
generally resulting in reduced computational accuracy. To supplement the weak point of the traditional
approach, it is necessary to redistribute statistically the energy equally from all modes in the analytical
frequency band. This allows computed results to be compared with experimental results for a structure
across a wide frequency band. This is the SEA method [1]. Early in its development, the objective of
this analytical method was to predict the vibration response of artificial satellites and rockets that
receive sound excitation when the jet discharges, and to predict the response of vibration stress in the
boundary layer noise of an aircraft’s airframe. It also became a model that allows an exciting force to be
energy of excitation of a diffused (distributed) sound field and its variables that represent the sound
pressure, acceleration, and force. Thus, it can be applied to problems of solid-borne sound in which
vibration propagates through each element [2] and problems of air-borne sound in which multiple
barriers exist [3], even when more excitation points than one are present.
