The energy source simulation method

An energy source simulation method (ESSM) has been developed to determine sound energy density. Using this approach, a specified intensity boundary condition on the surface of a vibrating body is approximated by superimposing energy density sources located outside the acoustic domain. The unknown strengths for these sources are then found by minimizing the error on the boundary, using a least-squares technique. The superposition of these energy density sources should then approximate the sound radiating from the body. The approach was evaluated for radiation problems in two-dimensions for circular and square boundaries. The ESSM proved an excellent tool for predicting the energy density provided that power radiated uniformly along the boundary. However, the ESSM could not accurately predict the directivity characteristics of the energy density field if the power radiated significantly higher from one side of an object than other sides. The ESSM was also applied to both an interior and exterior scattering problem with similar results.