Absorptive Muffler with Shells

Acoustics Application Gallery 14717

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 Background and Motivation
• This model presents an extension of the Absorptive Muffler model located in the
Application Library, by including acoustic-solid interactions.
• The muffler structure is modeled using shell elements.
• The coupled problem is set up using the Acoustic-Shell Interaction, Frequency
Domain multiphysics interface.
• This model analyzed the effects elastic vibrations in the solid muffler structure will
have on the transmission loss (TL). The results are compared to a pure acoustics
model and an Eigenfrequency analysis of the pure structural problem.
• In real muffler systems the main effect of acoustic-structure interaction is probably
due to elastic vibrations sources that stem from vibrations in the full exhaust
system. In this model the vibrations are induced by the pressure waves in the air
(inside the muffler).
• Adding structural sources can also be done by specifying a deformation or a velocity
on edges or points in the structure.
 Geometry and Operating Conditions
Muffler made of Outlet:
0.5 mm steel plates Plane wave radiation

Fixed constraint

Fixing straps made

of 2 mm steel

Inlet: Plane wave radiation

and incident field
 Modeling Interfaces
• The model sets up and solves three physics models using two
physics interfaces:
– Pressure Acoustics to solve the model with pure acoustics (same as the
Absorptive Muffler model)
– Shell to determine the pure structural eigenmodes of the muffler system
– To solve the coupled acoustic and solid vibrations problem, the Acoustic-
Shell Interaction is set up. This is done using the Acoustic-Structure
Boundary multiphysics coupling under the Multiphysics node.
Modeling Interfaces: Pressure Acoustics

Absorbing liner
 Modeling Interfaces: Shell
Change the
thickness of the
shell where the
fixing strap is
located.

In this model the inlet/outlet pipes are fixed

at the ends. Here it would be possible to add
vibration sources that stem from vibrations in
the rest of the exhaust system.
 Results: Transmission Loss
In the low frequency range the modes are
symmetric and easy to excite by the incident
symmetric pressure field.
Results: Transmission Loss: Octave Plot

Octave Plot of same data shown as 1/3 Octave

Bands, note: frequency scale is now logarithmic
 Results: Eigenmodes
• Some mode shapes located around 150 Hz.

134 Hz 206 Hz

165 Hz 225 Hz
 Concluding Remarks
• The interaction is strong in the low frequency range where the eigenmodes
are symmetric and easily excited by the acoustic field. The field will not
excite all existing eigenmodes.

• There is probably a stronger effect on the transmission loss if there are

structural vibration sources; these can result in a transmission loss that is
negative. Strong acoustic sources may appear at the muffler walls, these
are not accounted for in the “input” power which is pure acoustic.

• Even though the effect of the pressure-solid interaction is not large,

undesired eigenmodes of the muffler structure may exist in places where
large transmission loss is desired