Reduce Noise

Improve Sound Quality

with Actran Acoustic Radiation

Simulation

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Introduction
Acoustics – Why and Where?

Orders: 2-4-6-8 Orders: 1.5-2.5-4-8

Acoustic
Regulations
Signature
Local to Continental Regulations Contribute to brand recognition

Efficiency and Fidelity For health or enjoyment

Acoustic
Comfort
Efficiency

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Introduction
Acoustics – Why and Where?

Acoustic Acoustic
Regulations Comfort
Signature Efficiency

How can I better integrate these aspects in the

development of my product?

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Introduction
Acoustics – Why and Where?

Work when you Integrate Acoustics in the

have noise issues development process

“Acoustic surgery” “Acoustic engineering”

→ Simulation offers solutions for better acoustic design

Know noise level before prototyping

Use results from other calculations
Understand the physical phenomena

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Why and How performing simulation?
Existing CAE tools

Measure- Static And others…

CAD Stress
ments

Electro- Multi
Magnetics Body
Acoustics
Dynamics

CFD Structure
Dynamics

And others… And others…

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Overview

Structure mesh Displacement fields

Acoustic Radiation

Acoustic mesh

BC_MESH
Feature

Illustrations from Caprile, J., Chaufour, C., and Chartrain, P., "Efficient Methodology for
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Automotive Powertrain Acoustic Radiation Analysis," SAE Technical Paper 2016-01-1794, 2016
www.fft.be
Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Noise Source

Frequency of time domain vibrations

FE Structure
Dynamics
In physical coordinates In modal coordinates

Vibration Pattern Mode shapes + natural frequencies

MBS Flexible
Body
10Hz
10Hz 17Hz

Participation factors
Measurement 20Hz
mode 10Hz 17Hz
1 7+4.1j 1.3+2.5j
2 3.2+1.1j 5.6+9.5j

Electro- 30Hz 3 1.2+0.7j 4+4.5j

magnetic 4 0.2+0.3j 3+0.5j
forces + Actran
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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Evolution of Acoustic Radiation calculations

Free Field Absorption Complex

Radiation mechanisms propagation

Sound Pressure Level

Radiated Power Structure (rigid, porous)
Radiation efficiency Directivity change Absorption on floor
Transfer Path Analysis Cover absorption Pass-by Noise
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Coupling with structure
Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use

Green Analysis

Performances

Automation

Optimization

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Simple coupling with other numerical calculation software

• Coupling with most FE tools

• Time domain results coupling for transient phenomena
Green Analysis • Coupling with electro-magnetic software

Performances

Automation

Structure dynamics Flexible body Fluid-structure

Optimization from MSC Nastran vibrations from Adams interactions in Dytran

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Meshing tools dedicated to Acoustic mesh creation

Automatic hole filling

Green Analysis

Fully automated
Exterior Acoustics
Performances

Shrinkwrap mesh creation

Automation

Optimization

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Understand physical phenomena

through dedicated post-processing

Green Analysis

Performances

Automation

Optimization

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Green Analysis: Flexible and efficient calculation process

Step 1: “Radiation” Step 2: “Solution”

Green Analysis
vn

pˆ j ( x)
Performances
p( x j ) =  pˆ j ( x)vn ( x)d
v
Acoustic radiation (monopole)
from microphone to surface v Coupling surface
Automation vn Velocity of the structure mesh

pˆ j ( x)

SPL [dB]
Optimization
Pressure due to an unit spherical
source j on coupling surface Results at microphone location
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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Green Analysis: Flexible and efficient calculation process

• Compute the radiated power

(ISO 3744 - 40 microphones)
Green Analysis
• 23 loadcases (engine RPM)

• 3320 frequencies between

Performances 8.2Hz and 4041.7Hz Confidential 58cm
Model
• 18 frequencies for
“Radiation” step
Automation
74cm 47cm
• Frequency parallel computation
over 3 processes with
5 threads per frequency 40min with Actran 17.0
Optimization 21.2GB of RAM per process

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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Adaptive Exterior Acoustic mesh

Green Analysis

15h

Performances
2h

Automation

10Hz 4000Hz

Optimization
With mesh adaptivity
Speed-up = 7
Without mesh adaptivity
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Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Easy to use and flexible scripting capabilities

• Based on Python language

• Automate pre-processing, run and post-processing
Green Analysis • Couple with optimization tools

Performances

NASTRAN
Automation vibration results
RADACT
Automated pre-
processing, run and
Optimization post-processing

Acoustic mesh (can be

18 | hexagonmi.com | fft.be created automatically)
Acoustic Radiation with Actran
Key features

Ease of use Integrated NLopt optimization library

• Local and Global optimization algorithms

• Optimize your acoustic design
Green Analysis • Metal sheet thickness
• Porous material properties
• Location of the cover
• …
Performances

Automation

Optimization

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Conclusions

Meet noise targets and make your product stand out

using acoustic simulations early in your design process

21 | hexagonmi.com | fft.be with an easy to use, accurate and efficient acoustic simulation software
 Loadcases defined automatically
Mode contribution to far field results

Actran VI
• What:
• Automatic mode contribution definition in ActranVI for BC_Mesh
boundary condition
• Mode contribution to microphone inside RADACT
POST_WATERFALL sequence
• Key benefits:
• Easier and faster acoustic radiation analyses set-up
• Easier visualization of the mode contribution in the far field.
• Target: Acoustic radiation analysis

RADACT Post-Processing

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 Radiation of tire vibrations

Absolute displacement Normal displacement

• What: Read time domain rotating tire results (Abaqus, Marc, ..) to time domain in stationary frame
feed acoustic radiation analysis

• Benefits: Predict noise due to tire vibrations in complex Mapper tool

environment

• Target: Automotive and ground vehicle applications

Acoustic
radiation

✓ Threaded Tire ✓ Grooved Tire ✓ Slick Tire

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RADACT Utility

• RADACT is able to automatically

• Generate an ACTRAN input file and
• Compute the acoustic radiation analysis
• Post-process in ACTRAN/VI the acoustic quantities (FRF and Maps);
• This utility is perfectly suited for streamline a simulation process

Maps
NASTRAN
vibration results Actran
RADACT FRFs

Acoustic Analysis
Set-up
Waterfall
Acoustic mesh

Structure Analysis Acoustic Acoustic Time for

set t i n g u p Post-
the post-
and Acoustic Mesh Analysis set-up Radiation processing Processing
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Engineering Timeline
 Thank You

Xavier.Robin@fft.be
Nicole.Drake@mscsoftware.com

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