Acoustic Radiation and Scattering from Submerged Structures Using Pressure Mode Similarity Surfaces

The uncertainty in the magnitude and spatial distribution of concentrated masses internally attached to a shell submerged in an acoustic media is considered. The governing probabilistic equations are derived, and the supporting computer code is developed. The method will result in the statistical properties of important output measures, such as the structural velocities as well as the far field pressures. Among those properties are the expected values and variances. The method is shown to be computationally efficient. It is general enough to account for submerged complex structures as well as large number of random variables, such as concentrated masses and/or uncertain internal boundary conditions (impedances). The flexibility of the method makes its extension to more demanding and complicated systems straightforward. Using such a probabilistic methodology makes it possible to correlate test results to analysis results in a systematic way, to better understand analysis results, to identify important sources of noise in the system, and finally to have an optimal design of structures which are submerged in an acoustic fluid.