Power flow analysis of a structure subjected to distributed excitation

An analytical investigation based on the Power Flow Method is presented for the prediction of vibrational Power Flow in simple connected structures subjected to various forms of distributed excitations. The principle of the power flow method consists of dividing the global structure into a series of substructures which can be analyzed independently and then coupled through the boundary conditions. Power flow expressions are derived for an L-shaped plate structure, subjected to any form of distributed mechanical excitation or excited by an acoustic plane wave. In the latter case air loading is considered to have a significant effect on the power input to the structure. Fluid-structure interaction considerations lead to the derivation of a corrected mode shape for the normal velocity, and the determination of the scattered pressure components in the expressions for the Power Flow.