ASA 130th Meeting - St. Louis, MO - 1995 Nov 27 .. Dec 01

1pNS4. Fundamental issues of accuracy in boundary element analysis of acoustic problems.

J. Trevelyan

Computational Mech. BEASY, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton SO40 7AA, UK

The boundary element method (BEM) has become well established as a primary technique for the computer simulation of acoustic fields. Its ability to provide accurate predictions of sound-pressure levels in a variety of media, including those extending to ``infinity,'' has led to a growth in the popularity of the method. Further, recent advances in acoustic diagnostic analysis, which is an extension of the traditional BEM approach, have added to the capabilities of this type of software simulation. It is important when using numerical simulation methods not to forget the potential sources of error which may be caused by improper usage of software systems. This paper discusses some of the fundamental modeling requirements of a good boundary element model, showing how the results can degrade when these requirements are violated.