Finite element and boundary element formulations for acoustics-smart structure coupled problems

Noise and vibration problems are chronic in many applications such as automobiles, flight vehicle structures and electronic devices, etc. The introduction of active, adaptive, smart or intelligent materials and systems has created many new concepts and paradigms for system control and design in a wide range of disciplines. Moreover, there has been an increasing interest in the development of high-fidelity loudspeakers and electroacous-tic transducers including piezoelectric microphones and silicon condenser microphones. Design and manufacturing of such transducers are complex and difficult. The acoustics-structure coupled analysis is required in order to accurately design electroacoustic trans-ducers, improve their performance, and control the vibration and/or structure-born noise more precisely. Finite element analysis provides researchers with powerful and versatile means of predicting static and dynamic behaviors of structures. Even though finite ele-ment methods are the most powerful tools for the analysis of complicated systems, solving acoustics-smart structure coupled problems using finite element methods is difficult.Doctor of Philosophy (MPE