<p>Intake and Exhaust system noise makes a huge contribution to the interior and exterior noise of automobiles. There are a number of linear acoustic tools developed by institutions and industries to predict the acoustic properties of intake and exhaust systems. The present project discusses and validates, through measurements, the proper modelling of these systems using BOOST-SID and discusses the ideas to properly convert a geometrical model of an exhaust muffler to an acoustic model. The various elements and their properties are also discussed.</p><p>When it comes to Acoustic properties there are several parameters that describe the performance of a muffler, the Transmission Loss (TL) can be useful to check the validity of a mathematical model but when we want to predict the actual acoustic behavior of a component after it is installed in a system and subjected to operating conditions then we have to determine other properties like Attenuation, Insertion loss etc,.</p><p>Zero flow and Mean flow (M=0.12) measurements of these properties were carried out for mufflers ranging from simple expansion chambers to complex geometry using two approaches 1) Two Load technique 2) Two Source location technique. For both these cases, the measured transmission losses were compared to those obtained from BOOST-SID models.</p><p>The measured acoustic properties compared well with the simulated model for almost all the cases.</p>

Near-field acoustical holography is a standard method for sound source visualization and localization. In this thesis, commonly used and newly published near-field acoustic holography methods are introduced and analysed. In addition, regularization methods are presented together with finding options of optimal regularization parameter. Based on theory, a LabVIEW library is built containing four implemented near-field acoustical holography algorithms and two regularization methods. To verify the correctness of implementations, a testing application has been made. This application allows testing of implemented algorithms with simulated or experimentally measured data. The correctness of implementation is verified, and algorithms are compared to each other with respect to accuracy and speed of calculation.

Intake and Exhaust system noise makes a huge contribution to the interior and exterior noise of automobiles. There are a number of linear acoustic tools developed by institutions and industries to predict the acoustic properties of intake and exhaust systems. The present project discusses and validates, through measurements, the proper modelling of these systems using BOOST-SID and discusses the ideas to properly convert a geometrical model of an exhaust muffler to an acoustic model. The various elements and their properties are also discussed. When it comes to Acoustic properties there are several parameters that describe the performance of a muffler, the Transmission Loss (TL) can be useful to check the validity of a mathematical model but when we want to predict the actual acoustic behavior of a component after it is installed in a system and subjected to operating conditions then we have to determine other properties like Attenuation, Insertion loss etc,. Zero flow and Mean flow (M=0.12) measurements of these properties were carried out for mufflers ranging from simple expansion chambers to complex geometry using two approaches 1) Two Load technique 2) Two Source location technique. For both these cases, the measured transmission losses were compared to those obtained from BOOST-SID models. The measured acoustic properties compared well with the simulated model for almost all the cases.

Thesis (D.Tech.: Electronic Engineering)-Dept. of Electronic Engineering, Durban University of Technology, 2007 vii, 150 leaves / Detecting and minimising distortion in audio signals is an important aspect of sound engineering. Distortion of a signal passing through an audio system may be caused by a number of factors and it is necessary to detect these effects for optimal sound. The problem is of interest to users and operators of high quality audio equipment and transmission facilities. The objective of this thesis was the development of techniques for the blind identification of distortion in a high quality audio signal using digital signal processing techniques. The techniques developed are based on digital signal processing techniques and statistical analysis of a recorded audio signal, which is treated as a random, non-stationary signal.

In June 2003, the Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center conducted an acoustic characterization experiment for a standard seismic exploration array. Two moorings with Environmental Acoustic Recording Systems (EARS) were deployed in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico to measure ambient noise and collect shot information. A 21-element seismic airgun array was towed along five parallel linear tracks with horizontal closest approach points to the EARS buoy position of 63, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 m. Calibrated acoustic pressure measurements collected during the experiment were analyzed to obtain zero-to-peak sound pressures, sound exposure levels, and pressure levels in 1/3-octave frequency bands. In addition, the experimental data were modeled by using a modified underwater acoustic propagation model to fill in missing data measurements. The resulting modeling procedure showed good agreement between measured and modeled data in absolute pressure amplitudes and frequency interference patterns for frequencies up to 1000 Hz. The analysis is important for investigating the potential impact on marine mammals and fish and predicting the exposure levels for newly planned seismic surveys in other geographic areas. Based on results of the experiment conducted and data analysis performed, a new experimental design was proposed to maximize the amount of collected data using the available equipment while minimizing the time needed for the source ship. The design used three patches, one with 3º angular spacing between the lines at a reference depth. Embedded is a smaller patch with 1º spacing and within that a still smaller patch with one half degree spacing. This arrangement gives a reasonably uniform distribution of shots versus solid angle with a large variety of emission and azimuthal angles for different ranges. Due to the uncertainty of positioning systems, the angular space is divided into solid angle bins. Simulations predicted more than 200 shots per bin for emission angles greater than 13 degrees. Statistical analysis of collected data will be performed on the proposed bin basis. An experiment based on the proposed design was conducted in Fall 2007. The data measurements collected during the experiment are currently being analyzed and will be reported in the near future.

Simulating the exact chaotic turbulent flow field about any geometry is a dilemma between accuracy and computational resources, which has been continuously studied for just over a hundred years. This thesis is a complete walk-through of the entire process utilized to approximate the flow ingested by a Sevik-type rotor based on solutions to the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). The Multiple Reference Frame fluid model is utilized by the code of ANSYS-FLUENT and results are validated by experimental wake data. Three open rotor configurations are studied including a uniform inflow and the rotor near a plate with and without a thick boundary layer. Furthermore, observations are made to determine the variation in velocity profiles of the ingested turbulent flow due to varying flow conditions. / by Felipe Ferreira Lachowski. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

La propagation acoustique guidée est étudiée dans ce travail. La propagation des ondes acoustiques dans une direction principale est privilégiée. La méthode des éléments finis ondulatoires est donc exploitée pour extraire les nombres d'ondes. Les déformées des différents modes de conduit rigide sont aussi obtenues. Pour des conduits avec des discontinuités d'impédance, la matrice de diffusion peut être calculée à l'aide d'une modélisation par éléments finis de la partie traitée acoustiquement. Une modélisation tridimensionnelle des conduits traités acoustiquement permet une étude de la propagation pour tous les ordres des modes, de leur diffusion et du comportement acoustique des matériaux absorbants. Les réponses forcées de diverses configurations de guides d'ondes aux conditions aux limites imposées sont également calculées. L'étude est finalement étendue à la propagation acoustique dans les guides d'ondes avec un écoulement moyen uniforme. / The guided acoustical propagation is investigated in this work. The propagation of the acoustic waves in a main direction is privileged. A Wave Finite Element method is therefore exploited to extract the wavenumbers. Rigid duct's mode shapes are moreover obtained. For ducts with impedance discontinuities, the scattering matrix can be then calculated through a Finite Element modelling of the lined part. A three dimensional modelling of the lined ducts allows a study of the propagation for the full modes orders, their scattering and the acoustic behaviour of the absorbing materials. The forced responses of various configurations of waveguides with imposed boundary conditions are also calculated. The study is finally extended to the acoustical propagation within waveguides with a uniform mean flow.

<div>Modeling methodologies based on state-of-the-art and classic theories of acoustics have been developed to provide a comprehensive toolbox, which can be used to model multilayer systems that involve acoustical and/or damping treatments, and to optimize these treatments' performance by designing their geometrical structures. The objective of this work was to understand, predict and optimize conventional sound absorbing porous media's near-field damping performance, so that automotive and aerospace industries can take full advantage of layered porous treatments' lightness and multi-functionality: i.e., absorption of airborne sound and reduction of structure-borne vibration, for noise control applications. First, acoustical models that include the Transfer Matrix Method and the Arbitrary Coefficient Method were developed to build connections between the bulk properties and acoustical properties of porous media when coupled into layered systems. Given a specified layered system consisting of a vibrating panel and a porous damping treatment, the acoustics models were then incorporated into the Near-field Damping model to predict the acoustical near-field and spatial response of the panel, based on which the near-field damping performance can be evaluated for a limp or an elastic porous layer when applied on different structures including an infinitely-extended panel, a partially-constrained panel, an aircraft fuselage-like structure and a vehicle floor pan-like structure. Furthermore, the relations between the material's microstructural details and bulk properties were established via an Air-Flow Resistivity model for porous media that are made of fibers, and the optimal fiber size that provides the largest damping for certain vibrating structures was identified. Relatively large fibers were found to be better at reducing lower frequency vibrations; fibers made of polymer were found to have manufacturing benefits over fibers made of glass to achieve equivalent optimal damping performance; and elastic fibers were found to have both manufacturing and damping advantages over limp fibers.</div>

Behavior during transitions in classrooms is an area in need of additional supports in order for teachers to effectively manage classrooms. Extended transition durations, particularly transition periods between one activity and another are related to problem behavior among children in educational settings. This study evaluated the use of acoustical feedback aimed to improve transition behaviors of elementary school students, using a multiple-baseline design across participants. Teachers were trained to implement the acoustical feedback procedure. Data on teacher treatment fidelity, student transition behavior (transition duration and problem behavior), generalization probes, and social validity were collected to examine the feasibility and potential efficacy of acoustical feedback. The results indicated that the participating teachers successfully implemented the acoustical feedback procedures with high levels or moderately high levels of fidelity and their implementation of the intervention was successful in reducing problem behavior and transition duration for all three participating children. Support for generalization was strong for two teachers and their students and minimal for one teacher and her student.

This thesis presents the practical and novel work in the area of optimal placement of actuators and sensors for sound-structure interaction systems. The work has been done by the author during his PhD candidature. The research is concentrated in systems with non-ideal boundary conditions as in the case in practical engineering applications. An experimental acoustic cavity with five walls of timber and a thin aluminium sheet fixed tightly on the cavity mouth is chosen in this thesis as a good representation of general sound-structure interaction systems. The sheet is intentionally so fixed that it does not satisfy ideal boundary conditions. The existing methods for obtaining optimal sensor-actuator location using analytic models with ideal boundary conditions are of limited use for such problem with non-ideal boundary conditions. The method presented in this thesis for optimal placement of actuators and sensors is motivated by energy based approach and model uncertainty inclusion. The optimal placement of actuator and sensor for the experimental acoustic cavity is used to construct a robust feedback controller based on minimax LQG control design method. The controller is aimed to reduce acoustic potential energy in the cavity. This energy is due to the structure-borne sound inside the sound-structure interaction system. Practical aspects of the method for optimal placement of actuator and sensors are highlighted by experimental vibration and acoustic noise attenuation for arbitrary disturbance using feedback controllers with optimal placement of actuator and sensor. The disturbance is experimentally set to enter the system via a spatial location different from the controller input as would be in any practical applications of standard feedback disturbance rejections. Experimental demonstration of the novel methods presented in this thesis attenuate structural vibration up to 13 dB and acoustic noise up to 5 dB for broadband frequency range of interest. This attenuation is achieved without the explicit knowledge of the model of the disturbance.