A meshfree approach for vibro-acoustic analysis of combined composite laminated shells with variable thickness

The vibro-acoustic responses of combined composite laminated shell structures with variable thickness immersed in acoustic medium is investigated by using a meshfree method in this paper. The theoretical model of structural field is established by employing the energy principle in conjunction with the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the theoretical model of acoustic field are established by using Kirchhoff-Helmholtz integral equation. The displacement components of shell segments and the sound pressure variables of acoustic medium are described by using the meshfree Tchebychev point interpolation (TPIM) shape function and Double Fourier series in meridional and circumferential directions. The non-uniqueness problem of Kirchhoff-Helmholtz integral equation is overcome by adopting CHIEF method. The validation of the presented theoretical model is proved by comparing the results calculated by the proposed model with those results of existing literature and FEM/BEM. Based on the established theoretical model, vibro-acoustic responses of combined composite laminated shell structures with variable thickness immersed in acoustic medium are performed by analyzing the influences of thickness parameter, external load and boundary condition on the sound pressure level (SPL) and sound power level (SWL) of combined composite laminated shell structures. The above investigations can provide the theoretical thesis and technique guidance of preliminary design of combined composite laminated shell immersed in various acoustic medium.