FEM/IFEM (ACTRAN) 1 2 Latest algorithms (Astley-Coyette) proprietary technology No frequency dependence

BEM Embedded FEM/IFEM (LMS/Sysnoise) Old fashioned algorithm Infinite Elements licensed from Lucent Technologies introduce frequency dependence in the matrices Convergence problems Limitation in the boundary condition BE is not a unique method but a set of submethods: - Direct (closed surface =interior or exterior) = fluid on one side submarines application - Indirect (exterior and interior) = fluid on both sides most applications - Coupled or uncoupled Choice prior the case is required but is often not easy. Boundary conditions are not compatible for all submethods Limitation in the geometry = local mesh refinement Only a single fluid in the whole model This fluid has to be homogeneous: - No fluid heterogeneity (no temperature gradients, no local volume absorbent) -No flow (too difficult with BE)

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Very stable, no convergence problem No limitation in the boundary condition One single method valid for all the application

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No compatibility problem in the BC No limitation in the geometry : Modeling strategy more easy with FE than BE Multiple fluids Each fluid can be heterogeneous and have a complex flow (convective effect)

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Very rich library of elements available in Actran: -Classical fluids - Visco-thermal fluids - Volume absorbents - Poro-elastics - A wide range of solids and shells Physical modeling is richer with FE Stability: -Very stable -There is NO irregular frequencies -Matrix coefficients are built from equations involving local nodes -an irregularity in the mesh only affects the results locally -Insensitive to the complexity of the geometry -FE more stable than BE because the impedance matrix is a polynomial function of the frequency (exponential function for BE!)

Strong limitation for instance for intake and exhaust systems Stability: Not always stable, because: -Irregular frequencies: at some freq, the solution is not unique and the mathematical problem jumps to its physical inverse (interior <> exterior) -Matrix coefficients are built from integrals on the whole mesh -an irregularity in the mesh can produce a global error (error at every node of the mesh) -Sensitive to complex geometries (real difficulty to handle sharp edges, or surfaces that are close to each other,)

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Performance: The volume of the model is meshed = more nodes, BUT: -The matrix to be solved is sparse, banded and symmetric -very easy to solve - CPU time per frequency is lower AND - Actran includes the Fast FRF Krylov solver (also used in Nastran) -only the CPU time for the first frequencies is significant for a wide range of frequency - FE faster than BE Mesh and Modal Preparation: -The method relies on volume finite elements (bricks, tets or mixture) - Note: the infinite elements are not actually created: they are represented as a BC applied on the outer skin - For engine radiation: FE/IE mesh = BE mesh (without refinement) + ellipsoidal surface + auto volumic mesh in between - Actran uses its own preprocessor or is integrated in Patran, Hypermesh and I-deas through preferences

Only the boundary of the model is meshed = less nodes, BUT: -The matrix to be solved is full (all the coefficients are built from an integral on the entire surface mesh) -the CPU time for assembly is high -Direct BE : the matrix is non-symmetric -Indirect BE : the matrix is symmetric but the BC imposes often a doubling of the dofs - CPU time per frequency is higher Mesh and Modal Preparation: -The method relies on surface elements of the boundary only - The surface singularities need to be highly refined