On the use of experimental ensembles in a hybrid deterministic-statistical energy analysis method

Abstract

There is a clear need in modern industries for models that can predict the vibro-acoustic response of their manufactured products at the design stage. Models based on the hybrid deterministic-statistical method are a suitable solution to overcome the challenge of predicting the response of complex built-up systems in the mid-frequency range. Despite its advantages, this approach may face limitations when some of the system’s properties are extremely difficult to model. This can be the case for the direct field dynamic stiffness, a key parameter in the hybrid method formulation, which depends on the type of junction assumed between the structural components of the system. This work explores the possibility of using experimental measurements to determine this dynamic stiffness. The proposed approach, based on statistical properties of random frequency response functions, is applied to the case of point junctions on a large thin plate. The results obtained using the new approach are compared to those computed using numerical techniques. It is concluded that the use of experimental data can be a suitable alternative to numerical techniques when modelling the junctions between components of a complex structure