Shape Design of Mufflers and Enclosures Using the Finite Element Method

In this paper, the acoustical finite element method is reformulated to make geometric shape parameters, explicit variables of the resultant matrix equation. Since the acoustical design of mufflers and enclosures is largely dependent on geometric shape, such a formulation may be usefully applied. The paper includes several different illustrations of acoustical design using the new formulation; the synthesis of an appropriate shape to get a desired response, the computation of shape sensitivity information, and automated shape optimization for minimization of a given objective function.