Application of a Hybrid Finite Element Formulation for Analyzing the Structure-Borne Noise in a Body-In-White 2005-01-2421

A hybrid finite element formulation for analyzing flexible plates connected to stiff frame was developed. The excitation was considered to be applied on the stiff members. Conventional FEA models were employed for modeling the behavior of the stiff members in a system. Appropriate damping elements were introduced in the connections between stiff and flexible members in order to capture the presence of the flexible members during the analyses of the stiff ones. Once the vibration of the stiff members and the amount of power dissipated at the damping elements was identified, an EFEA analysis was performed in order to determine the amount of vibrational energy in the flexible members. The hybrid FEA is applied to a Body-In-White (BIW). The results of the hybrid FEA are compared with results from very dense conventional finite element analyses. The correlation demonstrates that the hybrid FEA can be employed for structure-borne vibration and noise analysis during the design stage of a vehicle, and that it offers a coupling between traditional energy based methods and conventional FEA tools used in vehicle design.