Structural/Acoustic Sensitivity Analysis of a Panel With Manufacturing Variability

Sensitivity analysis is an essential component in the design of structural/acoustic systems. Current structural/acoustic sensitivity algorithms assume deterministic system design parameters and therefore predict changes in the deterministic response of the system. Due to variability associated with manufacturing tolerances most structural/acoustic systems consist of random and deterministic structural design parameters and therefore produce a probabilistic acoustic response. In this work, a structural/acoustic sensitivity algorithm is presented that considers systems comprised of random and deterministic design parameters. The new sensitivity algorithm calculates the change in the probabilistic vibro-acoustic response of a system due to a change in a deterministic design parameter. The new algorithm uses boundary element analysis, finite element analysis, and an advanced mean value method. An elastically supported panel subject to a non-uniform load is used to illustrate the algorithm. Variability is considered in the elastic support while structural sizing parameters are taken to be deterministic. The response of the panel is defined in terms of probabilistic radiated sound power. Probabilistic sound power sensitivity results are calculated and used to predict new sound power values via finite difference analysis. These results are compared successfully to results obtained through re-analysis.Copyright © 2002 by ASME