Radiation efficiency, impedance, and the acoustics of rattle

Rattle issues consistently rank as one of the top consumer complaints in initial quality surveys for many new products. Predicting the acoustics of rattle is complicated by the need to model the vibro-acoustic response of large complex structures across a broad frequency range. The complexity of the analysis can be reduced by making use of standard methods derived almost 50 years ago. In particular, this paper discusses a computationally efficient method for assessing the propensity for rattle in large complex structures. A finite element model is used to predict the probability that impacts will occur when a product is exposed to a particular low frequency random vibro-acoustic environment. The expected contact forces arising from each impact are then estimated by making use of expressions involving the drive point impedances of infinite structures. Finally, the vibration and acoustic radiation associated with the various impacts are predicted and ranked using a SEA model. A number of examples are presented including one which makes use of a radiation efficiency formula due to G. Maidanik. The results are in very good agreement with analytical reference results.