Int. J. Vehicle Noise and Vibration, Vol. 4, No.

1, 2008 35

Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc

with various orthotropic properties under thermal
environment

Boorle Rajesh Kumar, N. Ganesan*

and Raju Sethuraman
Machine Design Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600036, India
Fax: +91 44 2350509
E-mail: rajesh_mechanical@smail.iitm.ac.in
E-mail: nganesan@iitm.ac.in
E-mail: sethu@iitm.ac.in
*Corresponding author

Abstract: Composite circular discs with polar orthotropic and rectangular

orthotropic fibres of different composite materials are modelled and their
vibration response due to harmonic point load under thermal environment was
computed by Finite Element Method (FEM) using ANSYS. Acoustic response
of composite circular disc was computed by coupling the vibration data from
FEM to the Boundary Element Method (BEM) using LMS SYSNOISE.

Keywords: finite element method; FEM; boundary element method; BEM;

critical buckling temperature; commercial CAE packages ANSYS and LMS
VIRTUAL LAB with LMS SYSNOISE as solver.

Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Rajesh Kumar, B.,

Ganesan, N. and Sethuraman, R. (2008) ‘Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite
circular disc with various orthotropic properties under thermal environment’,
Int. J. Vehicle Noise and Vibration, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp.35–69.

Biographical notes: Boorle Rajesh Kumar is currently research scholar in

Indian Institute of Technology Madras, doing research in the area of
vibro-acoustic analysis of Composite and FGM structures under thermal
environment. He received undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering
from Nagarjuna university and yet to receive post graduate degree from Indian
Institute of Technology at Madras.

N. Ganesan is currently Professor in Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

His on going research is in the areas of vibro-acoustic analysis of Composite
and FGM structures, under thermal environment and Active vibration control
using smart materials. He is the author of more than 200 papers in the open
literature. He received his PhD Degree in 1975 from Indian Institute of
Technology at Madras.

Raju Sethuraman is currently Professor in Indian Institute of Technology

Madras. His on going research is in the areas of fracture and fatigue analysis of
engineering structures. He received his PhD Degree in 1990 from Indian
Institute of Technology at Bombay.

Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

36 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

1 Introduction

Circular discs are widely used in mechanical components like rotors, fly wheels,
clutches, brakes mounted on power transmission shafts, transducers in defense
applications and hydrophones in sensing applications. Now a days in designing
components for applications like aerospace, light vehicles and automobiles weight is the
primary concern. Composite materials which are of high stiffness to mass ratio with polar
orthotropic composites of fibre angle α = 0°, α = 90° and rectangular orthotropic
composites are used in many of above applications. These composite circular discs
vibrate and radiate sound when subjected to several types of loadings during their
application. They behave peculiar when subjected to thermal environment.
There is a substantial amount of literature available on buckling and modal analysis
of circular disc. Vogel and Skinner (1965) investigated natural frequencies of a uniform
annular disc; Thompson (1971) computed self and mutual radiation impedances of a
uniformly vibrating annular or circular piston by integration of the far-field directivity
function. Wang and Thevendran (1993) used the Raleigh-Ritz method, based on the thin
plate theory, Lee and Singh (1994) presented analytical formulations for annular disc
sound radiation using structural modes. Raveendra et al. (1998) and Vlahopoulos and
Raveendra (1998) used indirect Boundary Element Method (BEM) for structural
acoustics, von Estorff and Zaleski (2003) and Wu (2005) also used Boundary Element
Method (BEM) for prediction of structural acoustics. Qatu (2004) also conducted studies
on vibrations of laminated shells and plates. Lee and Singh (2005a, 2005b) proposed a
polynomial approximation for modal acoustic power radiation from a thin annular disc.
From the literature it is found that the studies on vibro-acoustic behaviour of
composite circular disc under thermal environment have not been attempted. This work is
an extension of our previous work without thermal effect (accepted for publication) and
here we concentrated our study on vibration and acoustic analysis of composite circular
disc subjected to harmonic point load under thermal environment i.e., by considering pre-
stress effect and thermal loading is expected from the fluid domain surrounding the
vibrating structure of temperature independent material properties.
In general vibration response of the structure is computed by Finite Element Method
(FEM) and acoustic response is computed by BEM while using FEM for acoustic
analysis infinite domain has to be meshed which demands high computation time.
Generally for computing vibro-acoustic response FEM and BEM are coupled to take
advantage of both the methods. In the present work, commercial CAE tools ANSYS is
used to compute vibration response and LMS SYSNOISE is used to compute sound
radiation from the vibrating composite circular disc.

2 Methodology used

In the present section the methodology of the approach is presented. The geometrical
characteristic of circular disc, details of FE and BE meshes for both the vibration and
acoustic analysis cases are explained.
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 37

2.1 Dimensions of circular disc used for vibro-acoustic analysis

The circular disc shown in Figure 1 used for vibro-acoustic analysis whose outer radius
R = 0.5 m, inner radius R0 = 0.25 m and thickness H = 0.01 m. The disc is fixed at both
the inner and outer radii and subjected to harmonic loading with unit amplitude at
different radial positions given in Figure 2 (0.0, 0.30, 0.0), (0.0, 0.375, 0.0) and
(0.0, 0.45, 0.0) the field points are created exactly 0.5 m above the application of
harmonic point load (0.0, 0.30, 0.50), (0.0, 0.375, 0.50) and (0.0, 0.45, 0.50) to measure
pressure level at that particular location and acceleration response is measured at point of
application of harmonic load.

Figure 1 Dimensions of circular disc

Figure 2 Circular disc subjected to harmonic loading at different radial positions and with field
points in space exactly 0.5 m above the point of application of load

2.2 Finite Element Method (FEM) for vibration analysis

The mesh used in ANSYS for vibration analysis of all cases of circular disc is shown in
Figure 3 and shell181 is the assigned element type. In the applications like clutches,
brakes, fly wheels and rotors, thin plate theory is not valid hence in such cases elements
like shell181, shell91, shell93, and shell99 are to be used. These shell elements are based
on first order shear deformation theory (usually referred as Mindlin-Reissner plate
theory). So they are compatible for modelling composite structures with different fibre
orientations and different types of orthotropic by changing elemental coordinate system.
Structural damping can also be assigned, generally for composite structures damping is
more compared to structures made up of isotropic material. In current vibro-acoustic
analysis for all cases of composite circular discs it is assumed as 1%.
38 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 3 Details of shell element and FE mesh used for vibration analysis: (a) ANSYS element
shell181 and (b) mesh used for vibration analysis (see online version for colours)

(a) (b)

2.3 Different types of orthotropic properties

In ANSYS while modelling orthotropic materials elemental coordinate system is
modified to global coordinate system. For the case of rectangular orthotropic
(Figure 4(a)) fibre orientation is along Cartesian coordinates so elemental coordinate
system is aligned with global Cartesian coordinate system. For polar orthotropic Į = 90°
(Figure 4(b)) fibre orientation is along circumferential direction so elemental coordinate
system is aligned with global cylindrical coordinate system in circumferential direction.
For polar orthotropic Į = 0° (Figure 4(c)) fibre orientation along radial direction so
elemental coordinate system is aligned with global cylindrical coordinate system in radial
direction.

Figure 4 Different types of orthotropic properties used for vibro-acoustic analysis:

(a) rectangular orthotropic; (b) circumferential orthotropic and (c) radial orthotropic

(a) (b) (c)

Construction of rectangular orthotropic circular disc is easy among all cases due to its
simplicity; generally it is prepared by cutting rectangular composite plate. In the case of
circumferential and radial orthotropic circular disc orienting fibre along circumferential
and radial directions is a difficult task. In general orthotropic circular disc for different
boundary conditions has peculiar behaviour in strength point of view. In current study,
vibro-acoustic analysis of orthotropic circular disc is carried out for the fixed-fixed
boundary condition.
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 39

2.4 Prediction of thermal loading by conducting thermal buckling analysis

In general, instability of structures under thermal environment is considered as serious
effect because thermal load required for thermal buckling is much less than the
mechanical load required for mechanical buckling and mechanical forces induced on
structures during application are much less than the mechanical buckling load.
In ANSYS buckling analysis is conducted by two ways linear and non linear eigen-value
buckling.
For the current study, linear eigen-value buckling analysis is conducted to find
bifurcation point where structures are supposed to buckle. Initial stress stiffening effect
induced on structure due to buckling load is calculated by conducting static analysis with
pre-stress effect on. After conducting thermal buckling analysis thermal loads to be
applied on the structure is decisive as fractions of thermal buckling load so 0.0 (no
thermal effect) 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.95 (near to thermal buckling load) are considered as
thermal loads.
([ K ] + λi [ S ]){ψ i } = {0}

[K] is the stiffness matrix, [S] is the stress stiffening and ψi is the eigen vector.
The critical buckling temperature of composite circular discs with various orthotropic
for the fixed-fixed boundary condition given in Table 1, among all cases radial
orthotropic has more critical buckling temperature.

Table 1 Critical buckling temperatures (°C) when different materials used

Composite material Rectangular Circumferential Radial

Graphite-epoxy 293 235 967
Boron-epoxy 172 166 431
Glass-epoxy 252 240 501

2.5 Prediction of vibration response under thermal environment

When structures subjected to thermal loading then stress stiffening effect takes place
which leads to change in natural frequencies and shift of frequency response curves, this
effect is induced by conducting initial static analysis with pre-stress effect on. The block
diagram for vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment
is given in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Block diagram of vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular subjected to point

excitation under thermal loads
40 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

3 Boundary Element Method (BEM) for acoustic analysis

BEM involves creation of boundary element mesh along surface of the structure and field
points in interior and exterior domains. Computing frequency dependant BEM influence
matrices, specifying solvers like Direct BEM or In Direct BEM. Incorporate boundary
conditions like mentioning interior or exterior in the case of Direct BEM, free edges
where jump across surface is zero in the case of IBEM. Generally for computing acoustic
response, In Direct BEM is used because sound radiation is computed on both sides of
boundary element mesh i.e., interior and exterior domains of boundary. The boundary
element mesh is created along the surface of the structure by using finite element mesh
used for vibration analysis but in general FE meshes are highly dense and consist of
interior nodes and elements, in such cases FE mesh is converted to BE mesh by
coarsening and skinning the structural FE mesh using LMS VIRTUAL LAB
pre acoustics. But in present case the skinning operation is not required because the FE
mesh does not have any interior nodes or elements, so directly the FE mesh file employed
for vibration analysis in ANSYS is employed for acoustic analysis in LMS SYSNOISE
and displacements from ANSYS are imported on BE mesh (Figure 6(a)) without any
interpolation by using .rst1 which consists of FE results like displacements, stresses and
strain. The boundary conditions of free edges are imposed for circular disc at inner and
outer periphery given in Figure 6(b). After importing displacements on BE mesh primary
variables like velocities and pressures are calculated for BE mesh and secondary results
at field points are processed.

Figure 6 Details of BE mesh and free edges specified on composite circular disc used for
acoustic analysis in LMS SYSNOISE: (a) BE-mesh used for acoustic analysis in LMS
SYSNOISE and (b) free edges specified on the inner and outer edges of circular disc
(see online version for colours)

(a) (b)

4 Vibro-acoustic response of graphite epoxy circular disc with various

orthotropic subjected to point excitation at different radial positions

4.1 Rectangular orthotropic

The driven point admittance for composite circular disc with rectangular orthotropic is
calculated at different radial positions to predict position where point excitation has more
influence on vibration and sound radiation of structure. From Figure 7 it is observed it is
more for radial position 0.375m, also the same for acceleration response (Figure 8).
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 41

For rectangular orthotropic both radial and circumferential modes are coupled so
point excitation leads to excitation of both radial and circumferential modes. From the
vibro-acoustic response of graphite-epoxy circular disc with rectangular orthotropic,
subjected to point excitation at different radial positions it is evident, point excitation at
radial position 0.375 m has more influence on vibro-acoustic behaviour also radiated
sound pressure and power level are more, from Figures 9 and 10 respectively.

Figure 7 Driven point admittance from circular disc with rectangular orthotropic
(see online version for colours)

Figure 8 Acceleration response from composite circular disc with rectangular orthotropic
subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online version for colours)
42 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 9 Radiated sound pressure from composite circular disc with rectangular orthotropic
subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online version for colours)

Figure 10 Radiated sound power level from composite circular disc with rectangular orthotropic
subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online version
for colours)

4.2 Circumferential orthotropic

The vibro-acoustic response of graphite-epoxy circular disc with circumferential
orthotropic and excited with point excitation at different radial positions is given in
Figures 11–14, at the position of 0.375 m maximum number of modes for a circular disc
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 43

are excited and radiate sound, from driven point admittance (Figure 11) point excitation
at that radial position has more influence on vibration and sound radiation of structure.
Also the radiated sound power level from Figure 13 was greater for the radial position
of 0.375 m. So further study is carried out with point excitation at this radial position.

Figure 11 Driven point admittance from circular disc with circumferential orthotropic
(see online version for colours)

Figure 12 Acceleration response from composite circular disc with circumferential orthotropic
subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online version for
colours)
44 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 13 Radiated sound pressure from composite circular disc with circumferential
orthotropic subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online
version for colours)

Figure 14 Radiated sound power level from composite circular disc with circumferential
orthotropic subjected to point excitation at different radial positions (see online
version for colours)

4.3 Radial orthotropic

The vibro-acoustic response of graphite-epoxy circular disc with radial orthotropic and
excited with point excitation at different radial positions is given in Figures 15–18.
In the case of radial orthotropic all modes of circular disc are excited and radiate sound at
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 45

all positions of point excitation, but at the position of 0.375 m all modes of a circular
disc are excited. Driven point admittance, radiated sound pressure and power level
(Figures 16–18) shows point excitation at that radial position has more influence on
vibration and sound radiation of structure.

Figure 15 Driven point admittance from circular disc with radial orthotropic (see online version
for colours)

Figure 16 Acceleration response from composite circular disc with radial orthotropic subjected
to point excitation at different radial positions (see online version for colours)
46 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 17 Radiated sound pressure from composite circular disc with radial orthotropic
subjected to mechanical excitation at different radial positions (see online version
for colours)

Figure 18 Radiated sound power level from composite circular disc with radial orthotropic
subjected to mechanical excitation at different radial positions (see online version
for colours)

4.4 Analysis of mode shapes of graphite epoxy circular disc with various
orthotropic
Mode shapes of rectangular, circumferential and radial orthotropic circular disc are given
in Figure 19(a)–(c) respectively. In the case of circumferential, radial orthotropic
antinodes exist at the position (0, 0.375 m, 0) so that maximum number of modes are
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 47

excited and radiate sound when the point excitation is at that location and for rectangular
orthotropic anti nodes are near to that location. Further study on different materials is
carried out with point excitation at that position.

Figure 19 Mode shapes of graphite epoxy circular disc with various orthotropic:
(a) rectangular orthotropic circular disc; (b) circumferential orthotropic circular disc
and (c) radial orthotropic circular disc (see online version for colours)

(a)

(b)

(c)

5 Vibro-acoustic analysis of graphite epoxy circular disc with various

orthotropic subjected to point excitation under thermal environment

5.1 Rectangular orthotropic

The displacement, velocity and acceleration plots for rectangular orthotropic circular disc
for different thermal loadings are given in Figures 20–22 respectively, as temperature
increases huge shift in frequencies occurs at last fundamental mode reaches to zero when
temperature is increased to critical buckling temperature i.e., zone of instability of a
structure.
48 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

There is an increase in displacements and velocities as thermal load increases but

decrease in acceleration because of low operating frequency range. Radiated sound
pressure level (Figure 23) at the field point 0.50 m above of point of application of load is
decreasing as thermal load increases because it is dependant on velocity, acceleration and
operating frequency range of the vibrating structure.

Figure 20 Normal displacements of circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 21 Normal velocities of circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 49

Figure 22 Acceleration response from circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 23 Radiated sound pressure from circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

Radiated sound power level (Figure 24) which signifies sound power generated by
vibrating structure transmitted to surrounding environment, remains same at all thermal
loadings for circular disc with rectangular orthotropic. Radiation efficiency Figure 25
50 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

which is the ratio of radiated sound power to vibrational energy of the structure, is more
than one i.e. radiated sound power is more than the vibrational energy, and it is
decreasing as thermal loading increases.

Figure 24 Radiated sound power level from circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 25 Radiation efficiency of circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 51

Directivity pattern of radius 0.375 m at 0.50 m above the vibrating circular disc for three
modes are given in Figure 26 they indicate the occurrence of maximum pressure at any
other point in θ – dir. For the fixed-fixed boundary condition more number of ripples
observed in the θ – dir for second and third modes.

Figure 26 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under
increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (c) Mode 2 and (d) Mode 3 (see online version for colours)

(a)

(b)
52 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 26 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with rectangular orthotropic under
increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (c) Mode 2 and (d) Mode 3 (see online version for colours) (continued)

(c)

(d)

5.2 Circumferential orthotropic

The displacement, velocity and acceleration plots for circumferential orthotropic
circular disc for different thermal loadings are given in Figures 27–29 respectively,
as temperature increases huge shift in frequencies occurs at last fundamental mode
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 53

reaches to zero when temperature is increased to critical buckling temperature i.e., zone
of instability of a structure.

Figure 27 Normal displacements of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under

increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 28 Normal velocities of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)
54 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 29 Acceleration response from circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

There is an increase in displacements and velocities as thermal load increases but

decrease in acceleration from 0.50 time’s critical buckling temperature to critical
buckling temperature because of low operating frequency range. Radiated sound pressure
level (Figure 30) at the field point 0.50 m above of point of application of load is
decreasing as thermal load increases because it is dependant on the velocity, acceleration
and operating frequency range of the vibrating structure.

Figure 30 Acoustic response from circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 55

Radiated sound power level (Figure 31) which signifies sound power generated by
vibrating structure transmitted to surrounding environment, increases as thermal loading
increases for circular disc with circumferential orthotropic. Radiation efficiency
(Figure 32) which is the ratio of radiated sound power to vibrational energy of the
structure, is more than one i.e., radiated sound power is more than the vibrational energy,
and it is decreasing as thermal loading increases.

Figure 31 Radiated sound power level from circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under
increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 32 Radiation efficiency of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic under

increasing thermal load (see online version for colours)
56 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Directivity pattern of radius 0.375 m at 0.50 m above the vibrating circular disc for three
modes are given in Figure 33 they indicate the occurrence of maximum pressure at any
other point in θ – dir. For the fixed-fixed boundary condition more number of ripples
observed in the ș – dir for second and third modes.

Figure 33 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic
under increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (c) Mode 2 and Mode 3 (see online version for colours)

(a)

(b)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 57

Figure 33 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic
under increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (c) Mode 2 and Mode 3 (see online version for colours) (continued)

(c)

(d)

5.3 Radial orthotropic

Generally composites can not sustain temperatures above 250°C because epoxy resins
burn at those temperatures. In current case of radial orthotropic thermal loadings on the
circular disc are restricted up to 250°C, vibration response is found at 0, 100, 200 and
250°C. The displacement, velocity and acceleration plots for radial orthotropic circular
58 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

disc for different thermal loadings are given in Figures 34–36 respectively,
as temperature increases there is a considerable shift in frequencies.

Figure 34 Normal displacements of a circular disc with radial orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 35 Normal velocities of a circular disc with radial orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 59

Figure 36 Acceleration response from circular disc with radial orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 37 Radiated sound pressure level from circular disc with radial orthotropic under
increasing (see online version for colours)

There is an increase in displacements and velocities as thermal load increases but

decrease in acceleration from 250°C, because of low operating frequency range as
thermal load increases. Similar trend is observed in the case of acceleration and radiated
sound pressure levels (Figure 37).
Radiated sound power level (Figure 38) which signifies sound power generated by
vibrating structure transmitted to surrounding environment, increases as thermal loading
increases for circular disc with radial orthotropic. Radiation efficiency (Figure 39) which
60 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

is the ratio of radiated sound power to vibrational energy of the structure, is more than
one i.e., radiated sound power is more than the vibrational energy and it is increasing as
thermal loading increases up to 200°C with a sudden decrease at 250°C.

Figure 38 Radiated power level from circular disc with radial orthotropic under increasing
thermal load (see online version for colours)

Figure 39 Radiation efficiency of circular disc with radial orthotropic under increasing thermal
load (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 61

Directivity pattern of radius 0.375 m at 0.50 m above the vibrating circular disc for three
modes under increasing thermal loading up to critical buckling temperature given in
Figure 40 for the sake of finding the sound wave generated from the circular disc with
radial orthotropic though existence of disc is difficult at those high temperatures, they
indicate the occurrence of maximum pressure at any other point in θ –dir.
For the fixed-fixed boundary condition more number of ripples observed in the
θ – dir for second and third modes. Peculiar observation was made by directivity pattern
(Figure 40) for the circular disc with radial orthotropic, when thermal loading is near to
critical buckling temperature the directivity pattern got squeezed for all modes.

Figure 40 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with radial orthotropic under
increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (b) Mode 2 and (c) Mode 3 (see online version for colours)

(a)

(b)
62 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 40 Directivity pattern for three modes of circular disc with radial orthotropic under
increasing thermal load: (a) position at which directivity pattern is measured;
(b) Mode 1; (c) Mode 2 and (d) Mode 3 (see online version for colours) (continued)

(c)

(d)

6 Inferences from displacements and velocities on radiated sound pressure

Natural frequencies, displacements and velocities of graphite epoxy circular disc with all
cases of orthotropic with out thermal effect are tabulated in Table 2 and acceleration,
sound pressure level are tabulated in Table 3. It is evident from Tables 2 and 3 when
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 63

vibrating structure’s displacements and velocities are high then sound radiated from the
vibrating structure will also be high. For the case of rectangular orthotropic
displacements and velocities are high at first and second modes hence sound radiation is
also more among other orthotropic properties, from third mode sound radiation is more
for circumferential orthotropic because displacements are high among other orthotropic.

Table 2 Natural frequency, displacement and velocity of circular disc with various orthotropic

Natural frequency (Hz) Displacements (m) Velocity (m/s)

Rect. Circum. Radial Rect. Circum. Radial Rect. Circum. Radial
500 430 1450 10.6e–6 4.01E–6 1.54e–6 0.03331 0.01084 0.01404
950 465 1500 1.14e–6 2.58E–6 0.69e–6 0.00775 0.00754 0.00655
1240 555 1555 0.28e–6 2.24E–6 0.72e–6 0.00218 0.00781 0.00683

Table 3 Natural frequency, acceleration and radiated sound pressure levels of circular disc
with various orthotropic

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
Rect. Circum. Radial Rect. Circum. Radial Rect. Circum. Radial
500 430 1450 135.3 123.3 136.5 101.8 93.6 97.6
950 465 1500 127.2 123.3 130.1 94.2 87.9 90.6
1240 555 1555 118.0 122.7 128.1 84.5 85.5 85.3

Under thermal environment even though displacements and velocities (Table 4) are
increasing as thermal load increases to critical buckling temperature, acceleration level
(Table 5) is decreasing in the case of rectangular orthotropic but for circumferential and
radial orthotropic it is increasing up to 0.25–0.50 times critical buckling temperature and
decreasing for further increase, for all cases radiated sound pressure level is decreasing
due to huge shift in frequencies.

Table 4 Natural frequency, displacement and velocity for first mode of circular disc with
various orthotropic under increasing thermal load

Thermal loading Natural frequency (Hz) Displacements (m) Velocity (m/s)

ref to Tcr (°C) Rect. Circum. Rect. Circum. Rect. Circum.
0.0 Tcr 500 430 1.1E–5 4.0E–6 0.0370 0.01082
0.25 Tcr 430 380 1.3E–5 5.3E–6 0.0362 0.01267
0.50 Tcr 360 310 1.7E–5 9.3E–6 0.0400 0.01825
0.75 Tcr 250 220 2.7E–5 1.2E–5 0.0426 0.01779
0.95 Tcr 110 108 1.0E–4 6.8E–5 0.0735 0.04669
64 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Table 5 Natural frequency, acceleration and radiated sound pressure for first mode of circular
disc with various orthotropic under increasing thermal load

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Thermal loading Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
ref to Tcr (°C) Rect. Circum Rect. Circum Rect. Circum
0.0 Tcr 500 430 135.3 123.3 101.8 93.6
0.25 Tcr 430 380 133.8 123.6 99.0 93.8
0.50 Tcr 360 310 133.2 125.0 97.0 90.4
0.75 Tcr 250 220 130.50 121.8 91.2 84.1
0.95 Tcr 110 108 128.1 124.0 81.3 82.3

7 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc with various

orthotropic and different materials

Vibro-acoustic behaviour of different composite circular discs with temperature

independent material properties given in Table 6, for various orthotropic properties under
increasing thermal load up to critical thermal buckling temperature are tabulated in
Tables 7–12. Among all cases of orthotropic radial orthotropic has more strength and
circumferential orthotropic is having less strength, but in all cases of orthotropic as
thermal load increases shift of frequency is observed and finally reaches to zero when
thermal load is equal to critical buckling temperature i.e., zone of instability of a
structure.

Table 6 Material properties of composite for analysis

Composite material E1 (GPa) E2 (GPa) v12 ρ (kg/m3) α (10–6/°C) α2(10–6/°C)

Graphite-epoxy 137.0 8.9 0.28 1600 0.50 27.4
Boron-epoxy 204.0 18.3 0.23 2000 6.1 30.3
Glass-epoxy 38.6 8.3 0.26 1810 6.3 20.50

Boron-epoxy

Table 7 Vibro-acoustic response of boron-epoxy circular disc with rectangular orthotropic

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95
575 500 410 290 125 133.7 132.4 131.6 130.2 133.7 101.7 99.3 97.6 92.0 88.2
1000 940 850 760 680 124.5 124.4 123.2 123.8 122.7 93.1 92.1 92.3 92.6 90.8
1325 1250 1180 1090 1020 120.0 120.0 119.5 120.0 118.0 84.8 85.6 86.0 86.7 86.7
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 65

Table 8 Vibro-acoustic response of boron-epoxy circular disc with circumferential orthotropic

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95
530 470 390 280 120 123.4 125.8 126.0 122.0 121.2 94.0 96.7 96.3 81.2 58.8
555 485 410 300 160 122.7 124.0 124.8 122.0 121.3 90.9 88.8 94.8 90.7 59.7
630 545 450 330 190 121.4 122.2 120.50 121.6 121.4 86.2 81.8 75.6 77.3 82.9

Glass-epoxy

Table 9 Vibro-acoustic response of glass-epoxy circular disc with rectangular orthotropic

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95
400 345 285 205 95 132.7 134.5 135.0 133.3 131.1 97.6 98.5 96.3 90.7 82.3
590 535 475 410 340 125.7 126.0 124.8 125.0 124.5 92.3 93.0 92.2 90.6 88.0
740 690 640 585 530 117.8 120.0 118.4 117.4 117.7 84.9 88.9 90.50 89.7 89.0

Table 10 Vibro-acoustic response of glass-epoxy circular disc with circumferential orthotropic

Acceleration Radiated sound pressure

Natural frequency (Hz) (dB re 20e–6 m/s2) (dB re 20e–6 Pa)
0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95 0.0 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.95
370 325 270 197 90 124.2 125.5 127.2 125.0 122.7 92.3 91.9 92.7 82.8 66.3
390 340 276 201 97 123.4 123.3 125.8 122.5 122.4 83.2 82.3 86.5 88.4 58.4
430 370 305 215 117 122.5 122.8 123.5 124.5 122.8 70.1 70.4 71.4 76.8 78.5

8 RMS values of radiated sound pressure (dB re 20e–6 Pa)

for all materials

In general by root mean square value of sound pressure we can predict whether sound
radiated from structure has adverse effect on the surrounding environment. From current
study RMS value of radiated sound pressure for different thermal loads and composite
materials is made of use for better estimation of vibro-acoustic behaviour of composite
material for a range of temperatures. The RMS plot of sound pressure radiated by the
vibrating composite circular disc with various orthotropic made up of different materials;
at specified field point location up to the range of buckling temperatures of respective
material given in Figures 41–43.
66 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

Figure 41 RMS value of radiated sound pressure from circular disc with rectangular orthotropic
under increasing thermal loads (see online version for colours)

Figure 42 RMS value of radiated sound pressure from circular disc with circumferential
orthotropic under increasing thermal loads (see online version for colours)
 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 67

Figure 43 RMS value of radiated sound pressure from circular disc with radial orthotropic under
increasing thermal loads (see online version for colours)

As temperature increases the RMS value is decreasing for the composite circular disc
with rectangular and circumferential orthotropic but in the case of radial orthotropic
circular disc it increases up to 0.50 times of critical buckling temperature and then after it
decreases. Among all materials boron epoxy is having low RMS value in all cases of
orthotropic and thermal loadings.

9 Conclusions

Critical observations from vibro-acoustic response of various orthotropic properties and

materials under thermal environment for fixed-fixed boundary condition
With out thermal loading
1 Driven point admittance is more for the point of excitation at radial position 0.375 m
and also radiated sound power, among remaining radial positions. So the point
excitation at radial position 0.375 has much influence on vibro-acoustic behaviour
of circular disc.
2 Among all cases of orthotropic circular discs, circular disc with circumferential
orthotropic is having low natural frequency and radial orthotropic is having high
natural frequency from Tables 2 and 3.
3 It is evident when displacements and velocities are high then sound radiated from the
vibrating structure will also be high without thermal effect (Tables 2 and 3). For the
case of rectangular orthotropic velocities are high at first and second modes hence
sound radiation is also high among other orthotropic properties at third mode sound
radiation is more for circumferential orthotropic because displacements are high
among other orthotropic properties. Similar observations are made from other
materials also.
68 B. Rajesh Kumar et al.

4 For radial orthotropic circular disc displacements at all modes are very less and
acceleration response at the point of force application is high due to high operating
frequency range and in the case of other orthotropic circular disc displacements are
very high and acceleration response at the point of force application is low due to
low operating frequency range. Among all configurations radial orthotropic is stiffer
and similar trend is observed for other materials from Table 3.
5 Fundamental mode of circular disc with circumferential orthotropic is having low
pressure level and radial orthotropic is having high pressure level at mentioned field
point from Table 3 and similar trend is observed for other materials. In the remaining
modes circular disc with circumferential orthotropic is having high pressure level at
selected field point though there is low acceleration response from Table 3 at the
point of force application and radial orthotropic is having low pressure level at
mentioned field point though high acceleration response at the point of force
application
With thermal loading
6 Among all cases of orthotropic circumferential orthotropic is having low critical
buckling temperature and radial orthotropic is having high critical buckling
temperature from Table 1 and similar trend is observed for other materials.
Under thermal environment even though displacements and velocities are increasing
as thermal load increases to critical buckling temperature acceleration and radiated
sound pressure level are decreasing because of huge shift in frequencies.
7 The radiation efficiency from the vibrating and sound radiating circular disc with
clamped-clamped boundary conditions is more than one for all cases of orthotropic
properties under different thermal loadings i.e., radiated sound power in all cases of
circular disc is higher than vibrational energy. As thermal load increases radiation
efficiency is decreasing.
8 Directivity pattern of radius 0.375 m at 0.50 m above the circular disc for all modes
of graphite epoxy circular disc with various orthotropic under increasing thermal
load is given, more number of ripples are observed in ș – dir for fixed-fixed
boundary conditions. Peculiar observation was made by directivity pattern
(Figure 40) for the circular disc with radial orthotropic, when thermal loading
is near to critical buckling temperature the directivity pattern got squeezed at all
modes.
9 As temperature increases the RMS value is decreasing for the composite circular disc
with rectangular and circumferential orthotropic but in the case of radial orthotropic
circular disc it increases up to 0.50 times of critical buckling temperature and then
after it decreases. Among all materials boron epoxy is having low RMS value in all
cases of orthotropic and thermal loadings.

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 Vibro-acoustic analysis of composite circular disc under thermal environment 69

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Note
1
Output file from ANSYS.