The transmission loss of curved laminates and sandwich composite panels

The paper describes a model to calculate the transmission loss of both curved laminate and sandwich composite panels within statistical energy analysis (SEA) context: The vibro-acoustic problem is developed following a wave approach based on a discrete lamina description. Each lamina is considered to consist of membrane, bending, transverse shearing and rotational inertia behaviors. Moreover, the orthotropic ply angle of each lamina is considered. Using such a discrete lamina description, the dispersion behaviors of the panel are correctly represented. Using the dispersion curves, the radiation efficiency, the modal density, as well as, the nonresonant. and the resonant transmission are computed. Moreover, expression for the evaluation of the ring frequency and the critical frequencies of such panels is given. The described model is shown to handle accurately, both laminate and sandwich composite shells. Additionally, a transmission loss test is presented to confirm the validity of the presented model. (C) 2005 Acoustical Society of America.