PREDICTION OF FLOW INDUCED SOUND AND

VIBRATION OF PERIODICALLY STIFFENED

PLATES
Vivien Denis, Laurent Maxit

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Vivien Denis, Laurent Maxit. PREDICTION OF FLOW INDUCED SOUND AND VIBRATION
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 PREDICTION OF FLOW INDUCED SOUND AND VIBRATION
OF PERIODICALLY STIFFENED PLATES
V. Denis1 and L. Maxit2
1
Laboratoire d’Acoustique de l’Université du Maine
avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 LE MANS Cedex 9 - FRANCE
Email: [email protected]
2
Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique de l’INSA de Lyon,
25 bis, avenue Jean Capelle, 69621 VILLEURBANNE Cedex, FRANCE
Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Stiffened structures are very common in engineering applications, for instance the wing of an air-
plane or the pressure hull of a submarine; both are subject to an excitation due to their movement
in the fluid around, namely the Turbulent Boundary Layer (TBL) excitation. For improving the
knowledge about the interaction between stiffened structures and TBL, this paper deals with the
modelling of infinite periodically rib-stiffened plates excited by TBL. The mathematical formula-
tion of the problem is well established in the literature. The originality of the present work relies
on the use of a reciprocity technique for evaluating the response of the plate to convected harmonic
pressure waves. The present approach allows then to compute the vibro-acoustic response of the
plate due to the TBL from the response of the stiffened plate to a point mechanical force and to an
acoustic monopole. Results in the physical space and the wavenumber space show the filter effect
of the stiffened plate and the role of the supersonic domain on the far field radiation. They allow us
to interpret the influence of the periodicity of the stiffeners on the vibration and the far-field noise
for plates excited by TBL.

1 INTRODUCTION

Stiffened structures excited by turbulent boundary layer (TBL) are very common for practical ap-
plications (airplane, ship, train). In order to reduce the noise radiated from these structures, it is
then important to understand how a stiffened structure reacts to the TBL excitation. For improv-
ing the knowledge in this domain, the current paper deals with modelling of infinite periodically
rib-stiffened plates excited by TBL. A focus is made on the influence of the stiffeners and their
periodicity on the vibration of the plate and its radiated pressure in the fluid.
The use of the wavenumber-frequency formalism for evaluating the response of a panel
randomly excited in time and space is well established in the litterature [1] [2] [3]. This formalism,
which will be briefly described in section 2, permits to estimate the random response from the
knowledge of the wavenumber-frequency spectrum of the excited pressure and from the responses
of a panel for a set of harmonic plane waves. The presented study concerning the stiffened plate
excited by TBL is based of this formalism. The originality of the works relies on the use of the

005 - 1
 Figure 1: Panel excited by a TBL with flow speed U∞

reciprocity technique [4] to calculate the plate response due to the harmonic plane waves. Indeed,
the point to point reciprocity allows us to establish a reciprocity relation between the point response
of the plate excited by a harmonic plane waves and the response in the wavenumber space of the
plate excited by a point source. As for a periodically stiffened plate immerged in a fluid, this latter
response can be calculated analytically [5], the calculation of the plate response to TBL excitation
can be obtained easily. The numerical calculation time is relatively short and this approach allows
us to analyse the filtering effect of the excitation by the stiffened plate as it will be discussed on
one example.

2 ESTIMATION OF THE SPACE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF THE RESPONSE OF

THE PLATE

2.1 Wavenumber-frequency formulation

Let us consider a baffle panel excited by a fully developed TBL as shown on figure 1.
One supposes that the wavenumber-frequency spectrum of the wall pressure is known.
The displacement of the plate on point x due to wall pressure pb can be expressed as the convolution
product Z Z +∞
w(x, t) = hw (x, x̃, t − τ )pb (x̃, τ )dτ dx̃, (1)
Sp −∞

where hw (x, x̃, τ ) is the impulse response in displacement on point x.

The inter-correlation function Rww (x, x0 , t), which can be defined as
Rww (x, x0 , t) = E(w(x, τ )w(x0 , t + τ )), (2)
is obtained when (1) is replaced in (2) and its expression is
Z Z Z Z +∞
0
Rww (x, x , t) = h∗w (x, x̃, t − τ )Rpb pb (x̃, x̃0 , τ − τ̃ )
Sp −∞
hw (x0 , x̃0 , t − τ̃ )dτ dτ̃ dx̃dx̃0 . (3)
The space-frequency spectrum Sww (x, x0 , ω) is the obtained taking the temporal Fourier
transform of the inter-correlation function and can be written as
ZZ
0
Sww (x, x , ω) = Hw∗ (x, x̃, ω)Spp (x̃, x̃0 , ω)Hw (x0 , x̃0 , ω)dx̃dx̃0 (4)
Sp

where Hw (x, x̃, ω) is the transfer function in displacement of the structure observed on point x,
driven by a point force on point x̃, and Spp (x̃, x̃0 , ω) is the space-frequency spectrum of the wall
pressure.
Defining φpp (k, ω) as the space Fourier transform of Spp (x̃, x̃0 , ω), that is
Z Z +∞
0 1 −jk(x̃0 −x̃) 2
Spp (x̃, x̃ , ω) = φ pp (k, ω)e dk (5)
(2π)2 −∞

005 - 2
one can write
ZZ +∞ ZZ
0 1
Sww (x, x , ω) = φpp (k, ω) Hw∗ (x, x̃, ω)ejkx̃ dx̃
(2π)2 −∞ Sp
ZZ
0
× Hw (x0 , x̃0 , ω)e−jkx̃ dx̃0 d2 k. (6)
Sp

In this expression, the space Fourier transforms of Hw∗ (x, x̃, ω) and Hw (x0 , x̃0 , ω) appear :
ZZ
ω
H̃w (x, k) = Hw (x, x̃, ω)ejkx̃ dx̃. (7)
Sp

H̃wω (x, k) is here the frequency response observed on point x of the plate excited by a plane wave
of wavevector k. Indeed it can be interpreted as the sum of the responses on point x of the plate
due to excitations of amplitude ejkx̃ on points x̃.
One can write finally the space-frequency spectrum of displacement, depending on the transfer
function H̃wω (x, k) and wall-pressure spectrum φpp (k, ω):
Z Z +∞
0 1
Sww (x, x , ω) = 2 H̃wω∗ (x, k)φpp (k, ω)H̃wω (x0 , k)d2 k (8)
4π −∞

where k = [kx , ky ], kx the wavenumber in the flow direction and ky the wavenumber in the
transversal direction. If x and x̃ are the same point, the spectral power density of the displace-
ment at point x is Z Z +∞
1
Sww (x, ω) = 2 |H̃wω (x, k)|2 φpp (k, ω)d2 k. (9)
4π −∞

With the same approach the spectral power density of the pressure at point z0 in the fluid is
given by: Z Z +∞
1
Sp (x, ω) = 2 |H̃pω (z0 , k)|2 φpp (k, ω)d2 k (10)
4π −∞

2.2 Use of the reciprocity principle

Expressions (9) and (10) allow us to estimate the vibrations of the plate and its radiated pressure
in the fluid from the knowledge of the wall pressure spectrum, Φpp , and the transfer functions, H̃w
and H̃p . These transfer functions can be obtained by calculating the response of the panel excited
by a harmonic plane wave of wavevector k. As the number of wavevectors to be considered can
be large, the computing time can become prohibitive. In this paper, to overcome this obstacle, one
proposes to use the reciprocity principle [4]. This principle indicates that the ratio of the normal
displacement of the plate at point x over the applied normal force at point x is equal to the ratio
of normal displacement of the plate at point x over the applied normal force at point x. With our
notation, one can write :

Hw (x, x̃, ω) = Hw (x̃, x, ω). (11)

Introducing this expression in (7), one has:
ZZ
ω
H̃w (x, k) = Hw (x̃, x, ω)ejkx̃ dx̃ (12)
Sp

which says that H̃wω (x, k) is the space Fourier transform of the plate excited on point x.
Consequently, the power spectrum density of the displacement of the plate at point x excited by

005 - 3
the TBL can be calculated with equation (9) from the knowledge of the response of the plate
excited by a normal force at point x. That is to say that the plate response at a given point due
to TBL can be estimated from the vibratory field of the plate excited by a point force at the same
point. The principle of reciprocity can be applied for an observation point in the fluid domain then,
the transfer function H̃pω (z, k) can be interpreted as the space Fourier transform of the normal
displacement of the plate for the volume acceleration of an acoustic source located at point z. The
power spectrum density of the radiated pressure by the plate at point z when the plate is excited
by the TBL can be calculated with equation (10) from the knowledge of the response of the plate
excited by an acoustic source located at point z. This view, using the reciprocity principle, allows
us to save computing time compared to the direct approach described at the beginning of this
section. Indeed, for the system considered in this paper (i.e. periodically stiffened plate immerged
in water), the displacement of the plate expressed in the wavenumber domain can be obtained
analytically as it will be remember in the next section. The computing time is then very short.

3 WAVENUMBER SPACE RESPONSE OF THE RIBBED PLATE IMMERGED IN A

FLUID

Let us consider an infinite thin plate of thickness h lying in the plane z = 0 and with identical beam-
like stiffeners. The stiffeners are assumed to be straight and uniform. They are attached along the
lines x = nd, n being an integer and d, the distance between two stiffeners. The connection
between the plate and the stiffeners is assumed to be rigid. The materials are linearly elastic,
homogeneous and isotropic. The plate is loaded by an acoustic fluid on one side and is excited by
a harmonic excitation.
Two sorts of excitation are considered :
• A normal point force at (x0 , 0) on the plate,
• A monopole source at (0, 0, z0 ) in the acoustic domain.
This problem can be solved in the wavenumber space. These developments have already
been treated by Rumerman [6], Mace [7] and Maxit [5] for a point force excitation. It is extended
here for a monopole source, the process being the same.
The developments in the wavenumber space lead to an analytical expression of the plate
displacement :
1
W̃ (kx , ky ) = [Λ
Z(kx , ky )
Zp (ky ) S1 Ap (ky )(T1 (1 + S0 Zp (ky )) − S1 Zp (ky )T0 )
− [T0 − ]
1 + S0 Zp (ky ) ((1 + S0 Zp (ky ))(1 + S2 Ap (Ky )) − S12 Zp (ky )Ap (ky ))
kx Ap (T1 (1 + S0 Zp (ky )) − S1 Zp (ky )T0 )
− ] (13)
((1 + S0 Zp (ky ))(1 + S2 Ap (Ky )) − S12 Zp (ky )Ap (ky ))
where Z, Zp and Ap represent the flexural impedance of the plate and the stiffeners, respectively,
Sp and Tp are such as :
X (kx + 2πn )p

d
S =


 p 2πn


n∈Z
Z(kx + d
, ky )
(14)
 X (kx + 2πn )p Λ
d
 Tp =


Z(kx + 2πn , ky )

n∈Z d

and Λ is given by :
(
Λ(kx , ky ) = e−jkx x0 for a unit point force excitation at (x0 , 0),
−kz z (15)
Λ(kx , ky ) = jωρ0 e −kz 0 for a monopole source at (0, 0, z0 ) of strength 1m3 /s.

005 - 4
 The quantity H̃wω (x, k) mentioned in the previous section with k = (kx , ky ), corresponds
to W̃ (kx , ky ) obtained with Eq. (13) for the case of a point force at x = (x0 , 0) and the angular
frequency ω . The same H̃pω (z, k) corresponds to jω W̃ (kx , ky ) for the case of a monopole source
at z = (0, 0, z0 ) and the angular frequency ω.

4 ANALYSIS OF RESULTS ON A TEST CASE

Some numerical examples will be now given to illustrate some of the features of the present ap-
proach. A naval-like structure is considered. This test case is composed of a steel plate, 50mm
thick, and steel stiffeners with a T cross section (0.15m / 0.08m × 0.15m / 0.08m). The damping
loss factor is 0.02 for the plate and the stiffeners. The plate is loaded by the water and is periodi-
cally stiffened by the beam-like stiffeners. Two values of the stiffener spacing will be considered
for the numerical simulation: d = 1m and d = 1.35m. One considers a flow speed of 12m/s
which is supposed to induce a homogeneous TBL on the plate. The parameters of the TBL are:
0.047m for the thickness and 9.6m for the convection velocity. The interspectrum of the turbulent
boundary layer is modelled using the 1987 model of Chase [8].
For the figures presented in this paper, the levels of displacement or pressure are expressed
in dB using a reference of a unit in the International System of Units (SI).

4.1 TBL wall pressure and plate displacement

In order to illustrate the two terms intervening in Eq. (9), one shows on figure 2, the wavenumber
spectrums of the TBL wall pressure and the displacements of the stiffened plate (obtained with Eq.
(13)).
As the 1987 Chase model is considered, the TBL wall pressure shown on figure 2a is
vanishing at zero wavenumber. As the wavenumbers considered on this figure are well below
the convection wavenumber, the spectrum for these low-wavenumbers is thus proportional to the
square of the wavenumber. Outside the zero wavenumber region, the pressure level (in dB) vary
relatively slowly.
As it has been developed in section 2.2 with the reciprocity principle, one remembers that
the term Hwω (x, k) in Eq. (9) corresponds to the space Fourier transform of the plate, W̃ (kx , ky )
for a force excitation at x. One notices on the spectrum of the plate displacement, on figure 2b:

• the acoustic circle in the bottom-center. It is known that only the inside of this acoustic circle
will radiate in the far field;

• the regions of high displacement amplitude (in red). They will have the greatest contribu-
tion in the integral of Eq. (9). These regions are approximately contained in a circle having
the flexural natural wavenumber of the plate as radius (around 6m−1 ). They correspond
to propagating Bloch-Flocquet waves which are the results of the interaction between the
flexural waves of the plate and the flexural/torsional waves of the stiffeners (which have a
periodical spacing). At a given frequency, for a considered wavenumber ky (i.e. consid-
ering a one-dimensional system), the waves are either propagating or evanescent. The set
of ky wavenumber having propagating waves is called Pass band where as the one having
evanescent waves is called Stop band. These bands have been symbolised with two colors on
ky -axis of figure 2b. For this frequency, one has two pass bands and one stop bands. These
bands depend on the considered frequency. As we will show later, these bands and their
location in the wavenumber space have an influence on the radiated pressure by the plate
excited by TBL.

005 - 5
 (a)
(a)

Pass band Acoustic circle

Stop band
(b)
(b)
Figure 2. (a), Wavenumber spectrum of the TBL wall pressure φ ( k , k ) at 400 Hz (Chase
Figure 2: (2a),Wavenumber spectrum of the TBL wall pressure Φpp (kx , ky ) at 400 Hz (Chase
pp x y
2

model). (2b),model). (b), Wavenumber

Wavenumber spectrumof
spectrum of the
the plate
platedisplacement ) at(k400
W ( k , k W̃
displacement x Hz for a force
x , ky ) at 400 Hz for a force
y

excitation onexcitation on a rib. Stiffener

a rib. Stiffener spacing:spacing:
1m.1m.

IV-2 Vibroacoustic response of the plate excited by TBL

4.2 Vibroacoustic response of the plate excited by TBL
The response of the stiffened plate excited by TBL is obtained from Eq. (2.9) for the
The responsedisplacement
of the stiffened
and (2.10)plate
for theexcited by TBLTheisintegral
radiated pressure. obtained from numerically
is evaluated Eq. (9) for by the displacement
sampling
and (10) for the and truncating
radiated pressure. the The
wavenumber
integral spaces with appropriate
is evaluated criterions. The
numerically by sampling and truncating
computations are achieved on a standard PC computer with MATLAB and take a handful of
the wavenumber space with appropriate
seconds for one frequency.
criterions. The computations are achieved on a standard
PC computerThewith MATLAB
frequency spectrumsand take
of the plateadisplacement
handful of seconds
at (0,0) and thefor onepressure
radiated frequency.
at The frequency
spectrums of(0,0,100m)
the plateare proposed on figures
displacement 3 and
at (0, 0) 4,and
respectively. Three cases
the radiated are considered
pressure at (0, 0,on100m)
these are proposed
figures: the unstiffened plate and two stiffened plate with different stiffener spacings: 1m and
on figures 3 and 4, respectively. Three cases are considered on these figures: the unstiffened plate
1.35m. One notices, as it can be expected, that the vibratory levels for the stiffened plates are
and two stiffened plate
lower than with
those different
of the unstiffenedstiffener spacings:
plate. Moreover, 1m and
the vibratory 1.35m.
response of theOne
plate notices,
is as it can be
smooth in frequency for the three cases. In contrary, the radiated pressures
expected, that the vibratory levels for the stiffened plates are lower than those of the unstiffenedby the stiffened
plates are significantly greater than those of the unstiffened plate and the frequency responses
plate. Moreover, the vibratory response of the plate is smooth in frequency for the three cases. On
of the stiffened plate have strong variations in frequency: the radiated pressure can be 15 dB
the contrary,higher
the radiated pressures
in some frequencies bandsbythan
theother
stiffened
ones. Thisplates arebesignificantly
result can surprising at firstgreater
sight if than those of
it is compared
the unstiffened plate and to the
thevibration
frequencylevel. However,
responses by studying
of the the integrand plate
stiffened of Eq. (2.9)
haveandstrong variations in
(2.10), one can give some explanations. The values of this integrand are shown on figure 5,
frequency: the radiated
for two pressure
frequencies can with
for the plate be 15 dB400
d=1m: higher
Hz andin600 some frequencies
Hz. The bands
radiated pressures at than other ones.
This result can be surprising at first sight if it is compared to the vibration level. However, by
studying the integrand of Eq. (9) and (10), one can give some explanations. The values of this
integrand are shown on figure 5, for two frequencies for the plate with d = 1m: 400Hz and 600Hz.
The radiated pressures at (0, 0, 100) are respectively -31 dB and -44 dB, respectively for these
two frequencies. Figure 5a is fairly similar to figure 2b especially because the TBL spectrum (i.e.
figure 2a) does not vary much in the wavenumber domain of interest, at the exception of the low
wavenumbers close to zero. This observation could be made for the others cases presented in this
paper. On figure 5b and 5d, corresponding to the observation point in the far field, one observes
that the values of the integrand are significant, only for wavenumbers inside the acoustic circle or
inside periodic copies of the acoustic circle. The periodicity of the copies is 2p d
. The acoustic circle
results of the acoustic filtering of the fluid domain and the periodic copies results of the stiffener
periodicity. At 400Hz, a pass band (as defined previously) is present in the ky acoustic domain (i.e.
wavenumbers domain corresponding to ky < k0 ). It results high levels in the periodic copies (see

005 - 6
Figure 3: Frequency spectrum of the plate displacement at (0,0) for a TBL excitation. without
stiffeners (solid line); stiffener spacing: 1m (dash line); stiffener spacing: 1.35 m (dotted line)

figure 5b), and lead to a high radiated noise. At contrary, at 600Hz, a stop band is present in the
ky acoustic domain. The levels in the periodic copies are lower than at 400Hz. This explains the
difference of radiated noise between the two frequencies. Moreover, as the effect of the acoustic
circle and its periodic copies intervenes only for observation points in the far field, it explains why
these frequencies variations are not observed on the vibratory response. For a stiffener spacing
of 1.35m, one observes that the number of frequency band showing high radiated noise is greater
than the one for 1m spacing. It is due to the increasing number of pass band when the spacing
increases.

5 CONCLUSION

This study has proposed an original way based on the reciprocity principle to compute the vibro-
acoustic response of a periodically stiffened plate under a turbulent layer excitation. The method
is in pratice easily implemented as it consists in an integration of a quantity over the wavenumber
domain; the harder part consists in calculating the wavenumber response of the plate to elementary
excitations (i.e. force, monopole).
Analysis of results on naval test cases shows the difference in behavior of the vibratory
response and the far field pressure response for TBL excitation : while adding stiffeners reduces
the vibration, it enhances the noise in the far field. Moreover, the effect of the pass band and stop
band has also been highlighted. Analytical expression has been obtained for periodically stiffened
plate. This approach can easily be applied to other panel systems. In this case, the wavenumber
responses to elementary excitations can be estimated by discrete Fourier transforms

005 - 7
Figure 4: Frequency spectrum of the radiated pressure at (0,0,100m) for a TBL excitation. without
stiffeners (solid line); stiffener spacing: 1m (dash line); stiffener spacing: 1.35 m (dotted line)

REFERENCES

[1] W.A. STRAWDERMAN. Wavector-frequency analysis with applications to acoustics. Tech-

nical Report 8209, NUSC, 1988.
[2] C. MAURY, P. GARDONIO, and S.J. ELLIOTT. A wavenumber approach to modelling the
response of a randomly excited panel, part i : general theory. Journal of Sound and Vibration,
252(1):83–113, 2002.

[3] M. AUCEJO. Vibro-acoustique des structures immerges sous ecoulement turbulent. PhD
thesis, Institut National des Sciences Appliques de Lyon, 2010.

[4] F. FAHY. Some applications of the reciprocity principle in experimental vibroacoustics.

Acoustical Physics, 49(3):262–277, 2003.

[5] L. MAXIT. Wavenumber space and physical space responses of a periodically ribbed plate to
a point drive: A discrete approach. Applied Acoustics, 70:563–578, 2008.

[6] M.L. RUMERMAN. Vibration and wave propagation in ribbed plates. J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,
57(2):370–380, 1974.
[7] B.R. MACE. Periodically stiffened fluid-loaded plates, i: Response to convected harmonic
pressure and free wave propagation. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 73(4):473–486, 1980.
[8] D.M. CHASE. The character of the turbulent wall pressure spectrum at subconvective
wavenumbers and a suggested comprehensive model. Journal of Sound and Vibration,
112(1):125–147, 1987.

005 - 8
 Figure 4. Frequency spectrum of the radiated pressure at (0,0,100m) for a TBL excitation.
without stiffeners (solid line); stiffener spacing: 1m (dash line); stiffener spacing: 1.35 m
(dotted line)
RQ : pourquoi le coef 1000*(2*pi*ff)^2 pour l’affichage Spp ? Il me semble qu’il
correspond à la correction pour que la réciprocité s’applique. Est-ce qu’il ne devrait pas
être au carré car les déplacements sont au carré dans l’intégrale ?

(a)

(a)

(b)

(b)

(c)

(c)

(d)

Figure 5. Values of the integrand of Eq. (2.9), observation point at (0,0) on the plate: (a), (c);
of Eq. (2.10) , observation point at (0,0,100) in(d)
the acoustic domain: (b), (d). Two frequencies:
(a), (b), 400 Hz; (c), (d), 600 Hz. Stiffener spacing: d=1m.
Figure 5: Values of the integrand of Eq. (9), observation point at (0,0) on the plate: (5a), (5c); of
Eq. (2.10) , observation point at (0,0,100) in the acoustic domain: (5b), (5d). Two frequencies:
(5a), (5b), 400 Hz; (5c), (5d), 600 Hz. Stiffener spacing: d = 1m.

005 - 9