Introduction to Actran

for Acoustics Radiation Analysis

November 21st, 2012

Chanhee Jeong
Agenda
• Introduction to Actran
• Acoustic Radiation Analysis with Actran
– Weakly Coupled Vibro-Acoustics
– Computational Process
– Key Ingredients of the Actran Model
– Example of Application
• Live Demo in Actran VI
• Conclusion
• Q&A
 The Actran Software Suite

Actran for Nastran Actran DGM

Actran Vibro-Acoustics Actran Aero-Acoustics Actran TM

Actran Acoustics
Actran VI
 Actran Acoustics Module

Actran for Nastran Actran DGM

Actran Vibro-Acoustics Actran Aero-Acoustics Actran TM

Actran Acoustics
Actran VI
Actran Solver
IE domain
• Acoustic FEM/IFEM approach
• Multi-purpose toolbox: several computational sequences
– Direct Frequency Response
FE domain
– Modal Frequency Response – for interior problems
– Hybrid Modal-Physical Response – the best of both worlds
– Modal Extraction – for undamped structure or cavity
– + Compressible Flow –potential flow solver
– + Frequency response using a time domain LEE Solver
– + Transient solver
• Linux or Windows platforms
• Direct & iterative solvers, multiple load & restart
• Several types of parallelism available
Actran Acoustics Features
• Acoustics as well as weak vibro-acoustic coupling
– Acoustic finite elements, infinite elements
– Including visco-thermal loss effects
– Convected wave propagation (flow + temperature)
• Excitations imported from MSC Nastran or others
• Results provided (among others)
– Acoustic pressure, intensity and power
– Power distribution and radiation efficiency
• Applications
– Engine: power train and auxiliaries (oilpan,
manifold, exhaust, …)
– Engine compartment insulation
– Any vibrating / radiating component
• Can be further extended using vibro-acoustics and aero-acoustics
features
Few Words about Infinite Elements
• Infinite elements are:
– « finite » elements P’’
P’

– covering an unbounded domain

– with appropriate high order shape
1 3
functions in the radial direction
• Infinite elements:
– ensure there are no wave reflections P
at the FE/IE interface S
– provide accurate acoustic results
beyond the FE domain
Vibro-Acoustics - One-Way or Two-Way
Coupling
Structure

Noise Two-way coupling

One-way coupling Vibration
induces (feedback)
(no feedback) induces
vibration noise
Air

OK KO

Engine radiating in free field Sub-marine under water

Computation Process
1. Structural FEA Analysis = MSC Nastran 2. Acoustic computations = Actran
Mesh
&
results
files

3. Post Processing and Analysis = Actran VI

Maps FRF Waterfall
Acoustic Radiation Procedure
• An acoustic boundary condition is created from the vibration
levels computed by Nastran.
• The MSC Nastran mesh is different than the acoustic mesh 
mapping is required
• This feature is called BC Mesh (stands for Boundary Condition
Mesh) BC_MESH feature Acoustic Radiation

structure mesh

displacement field

acoustic mesh
Preparation of the Acoustic Mesh
• A 3D finite element mesh is a requirement to support the acoustic
analysis
• The element size must be small enough to capture the smallest acoustic
wavelength   c f and the small fluctuations very close to the structure
 use of 4 linear element per wavelength thanks to optimized
integration rules
• The meshing process is easy
– Create a closed surface mesh (BC_MESH) very close around the structural model
(wrapping)
– Create a surface mesh at a distance D (~0.3 x size of object) of the structure to
support the infinite elements
– Automatic 3D mesh in between
Infinite Elements Surface

BC_MESH Surface
3D elements
Supported Quantities & Formats
Structure Soft. Vibration Participation Factors Modes

MSC Nastran OP2 / Punch Punch OP2

ANSYS RST MCF RST

IDEAS UNV - -
Actran OP2 / NFF - -
ABAQUS ODB - -

• Type of vibration data compatible with Actran

– Acceleration, Velocity or Displacement
– Vector (3 directions) or Normal to the surface
• Can be expressed in physical quantities or under the form of
mode shapes and participation factors
• The different realizations corresponding to the different RPMs
will be automatically handled by Actran to output results for each
RPM available in the structure results file
Results – Output Specification
• Virtual microphones can be located
anywhere in the finite and/or infinite Output specifications
element domain

• Multiple control surfaces to compute the

radiated power

• Maps for different frequencies

– on the acoustic mesh or/and
– on a mesh dedicated to the post-processing
(named field mesh in Actran)
– plot acoustic pressure, acoustic intensity,
etc.
field points
(microphones) field mesh
Power Evaluation from Microphones - ISO 3744

• The computation of the radiated power

from a set microphones is normalized
through the standard ISO 3744
• Actran VI has function to automatically
define the field points location according
to the standard ISO 3744 (sphere,
hemisphere, box)
• Easy reproduction of experimental set-up
Waterfall Diagrams
• “Waterfall” are diagrams where the
response is plot versus both
frequencies and the engine orders
(RPM)

• Such diagram can be obtained after a

single Actran computation thanks to
the multi-load case capability

• Some phenomena can be identified as

system dependant (vertical lines on
the waterfall), e.g. structure modes, …

• Some phenomena can be identified as

excitation dependant (diagonal lines
on the waterfall)
Example – Gearbox Application Case
• Two models are built in order to simulate:
– the radiation in complete free field
– the radiation in semi free field (reflecting floor
located at -700mm in Z direction).
• Goal : assess the effect of the floor

Actran Output specification

Microphones

Field Mesh
Finite
BC_MESH Elements Infinite
Surface Element
Interface
Floor Effect on Sound Pressure Levels

Point E Point C
C
A
E
B
D
z
x
y
Point A Point B
 Floor Effect on the Directivity (3000Hz)

With Floor - Without Floor = Floor effect

Real
part of - =
the
pressure

SPL
- =
 Actran Demo
Seat back, relax and enjoy the flight
Thank you!