Computational procedures for determining structural-acoustic response due to hydrodynamic sources

In this paper we propose a methodology for determining the structural-acous tic response due to hydro/aero-dynamic sources. Our methodology is based on solving a fluid problem in which the structure is treated as rigid and usi ng the results of this calculation to serve a structural-acoustic problem. The two problems are coupled using Lighthill's acoustic analog. The key fea ture of our methodology is the numerical solution of the structural-acousti c problem. For this purpose, we develop new Variational formulations of Lig hthill's acoustic analogy that may be solved using the finite element metho d. This allows us to consider flexible structures and acoustically non-comp act sources in the acoustic calculation with relative ease. We present a pr eliminary calculation that illustrates the feasibility of our approach. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.