Towards a structure-borne sound source characterization

Characterization of mechanical sources is complicated since up to six force s and moments contribute at a contact and the response at one contact is th e result of forces and moments at all contacts. For the transmission proces s, the quantity of prime interest is the complex power, and, therefore, a p roper source characterization should relate to it. The source descriptor do es so and offers a consistent base for studies of source characterization. Theoretical and experimental progress on the source descriptor is reviewed. From inspection of the source descriptors and the mobilities from which th ey are composed, it is observed that the uncoupled component source descrip tors can establish the bandwidth and dominant components of excitation. The 'signatures' of the point mobilities required allows contacts to be classi fied as mass-, stiffness- or resonance-controlled component, establishing s implifications with respect to source characterization. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.