Analysis on acoustical scattering by a cracked elastic structure

The acoustical scattering by a cracked elastic structure is studied. The mixed method of boundary element and fractal finite element is adopted to solve the cracked structure-acoustic coupling problem. The fractal two-level finite element method is employed for the cracked structure, which can reduce the degree of freedoms (DOFs) greatly, and the boundary element method is used for the exterior acoustic field which can automatically satisfy Sommerfeld's radiation condition. Numerical examples show that the resonance frequency is lower with the crack's depth increase, and that the effect on the acoustical field by the crack is particularly pronounced in the vicinity of the crack tip. This mixed method of boundary element and finite element is effective in solving the scattering problem by a cracked structure.