Structural and Acoustic Analysis of Multiactuator Panels

Abstract

Multi-Actuator Panels are a possible solution to satisfy the requirement of a large number of loudspeaker channels inherent in wave field synthesis. The structural acoustic behaviour of Multi-Actuator Panels has been measured with a Laser Doppler Vibrometer and acoustic radiation simulation has been performed using a discretized Rayleigh I integral. The analysis shows that, due to the large structural damping, the acoustic radiation is almost entirely produced by the near-field around the excitation point on the panel. It is concluded that the model of an infinite panel is more appropriate than that of the widely known Distributed Mode Loudspeaker when describing the panel's performance.