Sound transmission across orthotropic laminates with a 3D model

This investigation examines the propagation of elastic waves in orthotropic materials to explain the sound insulation of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics). The mechanical characteristics of an orthotropic material generally require nine independent parameters: three Young’s moduli, three shear moduli and three Poisson’s ratios. Three-dimensional analysis is performed with the elastic wave equations of an orthotropic material. The transfer matrix method which expresses the relationship between stress and velocity is adopted to calculate the sound transmission loss across an orthotropic material. Further, the transfer matrix method can only be calculated under the continuous boundary condition in the interface of each FRP layer. The boundary conditions which are indicated above are velocity and stress. The numerical results are compared with the experimental results. Additionally, along with varying material properties such as Young’s modulus, the acoustical properties of the orthotropic material are explained and discussed later.