On the External Input Power into Coupled Structures.

In the application of the statistical energy analysis (SEA) it is commonly assumed that the external input power is independent of the coupling between an externally driven structure (a master structure) and an attached passive structure (an adjunct structure). It is argued that although this assumption may be reasonable for weak couplings and, with some reservation, for strongly coupled similar structures, it may be incorrect for strongly coupled dissimilar structures. The definitions of similar and dissimilar coupled structures, in this context, are explained. The implication to SEA of this dissimilarity in strongly coupled structures is discussed in the light of developing noise control criteria for complexes that are composed of these coupled structures.