2-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF THIN, SHELL OR PLATE-LIKE MUFFLER ELEMENTS

A general procedure for the analysis of curved or flat, thin two dimen sional muffler elements is developed. These thin elements can efficien tly utilize the limited space of hermetically sealed compressors or sm all engine compartments. The two dimensional inhomogeneous wave equati on is developed in two dimensional curvilinear co-ordinates by the app lication of Hamilton's principle. Four pole parameters are formulated from the pressure response solutions using the modal series expansion method. The eigenvalues and transfer functions of three types of thin muffler elements connected to an anechoic pipe are given as examples: the flat rectangular box, the thin annular cylindrical shell, and the flat circular box. A verification is made by comparing results for an annular cylindrical muffler element with results obtained from a three -dimensional model; good agreement was achieved as long as the thickne ss of the muffler element is sufficiently small compared to the wavele ngth range of interest. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited