A boundary element solution for sound transmission through thin panels

In this paper, the multi-domain boundary element method is used to model sound transmission through thin structures. A typical application problem involves two acoustic domains separated by a thin elastic panel. The Helmholtz integral equation is applied to each acoustic domain. The equations for the two acoustic domains are then coupled by two interface conditions. The first interface condition is the continuity of normal velocity. The second interface condition requires that the normal velocity be equal to the product of a structural admittance matrix and the acoustic pressure jump across the thin panel. The admittance matrix can usually be obtained from the finite element model of the thin panel. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate this method. Comparison is also made between the current (coupled) approach and an uncoupled approach.