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Prediction of Muffler Insertion Loss by a Hybrid FE Acoustic-SEA Model

Journal Article
2009-01-2042
ISSN: 1946-3995, e-ISSN: 1946-4002
Published May 19, 2009 by SAE International in United States
Prediction of Muffler Insertion Loss by a Hybrid FE Acoustic-SEA Model
Sector:
Citation: Mattson, S., Labyak, D., Pruetz, J., and Connelly, T., "Prediction of Muffler Insertion Loss by a Hybrid FE Acoustic-SEA Model," SAE Int. J. Passeng. Cars – Mech. Syst. 2(1):1323-1329, 2009, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2042.
Language: English

Abstract:

A reactive aftermarket automotive style muffler was considered for development and validation of a procedure to numerically predict and experimentally validate acoustic performance. A CAD model of the silencer was created and meshed. The silencer interior included two sections of perforated pipe, which were included in the cavity mesh. A hybrid FE-SEA (Statistical Energy Analysis) numerical model consisting of a finite element acoustic cavity excited by a diffuse acoustic field at the inlet and coupled via hybrid junctions to SEA semi-infinite fluids on both the inlet and outlet. The hybrid FE-SEA model solves very rapidly on a desktop PC making iterative numerical design a realistic option.
To validate the predictions, an experimental setup was created to directly measure the muffler insertion loss. This was done by using a broadband acoustic source piped into a hemi-anechoic chamber. A straight pipe with simple bends to recreate the path from muffler inlet to outlet was fabricated for comparison. Muffler insertion loss was calculated by means of a simple level difference between the silencer and the straight pipe. Agreement between experimental measurement and numerical prediction are excellent. A simple procedure allowing high confidence numerical evaluation of design iterations based on CAD models is outlined.