ASA 130th Meeting - St. Louis, MO - 1995 Nov 27 .. Dec 01

1pNS1. Practical considerations in the use of the boundary element method.

Kenneth A. Cunefare

George W. Woodruff School of Mech. Eng., Georgia Inst. of Technol., Atlanta, GA 30332-0405

The use of the acoustic boundary element method (BEM) is gaining widespread acceptance in industrial applications. This paper will present practical considerations for successful application of the BEM. The major issues which require attention for accurate and reliable modeling of a particular structure, whether existing or under design, include proper mesh selection, geometric modeling, the so-called ``nonuniqueness'' problem and the methods for its solution and intergration with other modeling programs (e.g., coupled FEM/BEM approaches). Mesh selection relates to the choice of element interpolation order and integration order. Geometric modeling issues include determination of the level of detail required for accurate modeling. The nonuniqueness issue addresses the well-known failure of the unmodified acoustic BEM at certain discrete frequencies. Program integration relates to some potential difficulties that could arise when coupling FEM and BEM programs. Finally, the paper will review some of the particular applications of the acoustic BEM.