Vibro-acoustic response of an infinite, rib-stiffened, thick-plate assembly using finite-element analysis.

The vibration of and sound radiation from an infinite, fluid-loaded, thick-plate assembly stiffened periodically with ribs are investigated numerically using finite-element analysis. First, numerical simulations are compared to the analytical solutions presented recently for this particular problem [Hull and Welch, J. Sound Vib. 329, 4192-4211 (2010)]. It is shown that the solutions reported in this reference are partially incorrect because the number of modes was not chosen correctly. Subsequently, the numerical model is used to study the effect of repeated and equally spaced void inclusions on the vibro-acoustic response of the system.