MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS [SEMESTER PROJECT]

Pressure Wave (Sound) propagation

In automotive muffler & transmission
Losses (attenuation)

Submitted by:
Pranshu Mahajan
Niteesh Kumar Dubey

Submitted to
Dr. Navin Kumar
SMME Dept.

Introduction

Muffler is an acoustic device inserted in exhaust systems of ic engines for reducing

noise.

There are two basic designs of automotive mufflers

1. Reactive (Reflective type) muffler
2. Absorptive (dissipative) muffler

The project model describes the pressure wave propagation in the muffler
[ This approach is applicable for analysing the damping of the same]

It analyses both inductive and resistive dampings in pressure acoustics.

The output is transmission loss for a frequency range of 50 Hz 1500 Hz

Domain Equations & Boundary Conditions

Domain Equations

The model solves the problem in frequency domain using time harmonics pressure
acoustic interface and is based on Helmoltz Eq. for acoustic pressure

p = acoustic pressure
= density
w = angular frequency [ w = 2f, f = frequency of pressure oscillation ]
cs = speed of sound

The equation is valid for reactive mufflers as it is, but in case of absorptive mufflers
damping is also introduced, as a function of
1. Complex speed of sound [ cc = w/kc ]
2. Complex density

[ c = kcZc/w ]

where kc = compex wave number &

Zc = compex impedance

Based on Delany & Bazley estimate for highly porous material (glass wool) the
complex wave numbers and impedance are functions of flow resistivity free space
wave number and impedance of air

Domain Equations & Boundary

Conditions
Boundary Conditions

At solid boundary [walls of resonator chamber and pipes] the model uses
sound hard boundary conditions i.e. normal velocity at boundary is zero.

The boundary condition at inlet involves a combination of incoming and

outgoing plane waves.

At outlet, boundary conditions specify an outgoing plane wave.

Analysis of Absorptive Muffler

A typical absorptive muffler consists of straight circular

perforated pipe encased in a hollow steel casing.
Between
the pipe and casing
lies a layer of absorbing material like
glass wool which results in dissipation of sound energy
in form of heat.

The absobing material used in our analysis is glass wool.

http:http://www.burnsstainless.com/imag
es/technology/Mufflers///www.burnsstainl
ess.com/images/technology/Mufflers/

In the analysis a muffler design with and without inner lining

have been analysed on comsol and the
results have been
compared to
obtain the effectiveness of the lining material in improvement of
transmission loss.

Geometric model
Length = 600 mm
Width = 200 mm
Radius of curvature of side surface = 50 mm
Volume of chamber = 2.4 lt

Analysis of Absorptive Muffler

Analysis of wave propagation through the resonating chamber

without liner

Meshed Model
Maximum element size has been taken
such that it is less than 1/5 times the
wavelength of the
wave
= (c/fm/5)
C = 343 m/sec
fm = maximum frequency = 1500 Hz

Absolute pressure field at 1500 HZ & 1250 Hz

Analysis of Absorptive Muffler

Acoustic pressure field [No
liner]

Acoustic pressure field [ 1mm

thick layer of glass wool as liner ]

The field plots clearly depict that the acoustic pressure values are much lower
with the use of damping that is lining of glass wool

Analysis of Absorptive Muffler

Transmission Loss
It is an important factor which decides the effectiveness of a muffler.
It is defined as ratio of incoming and outgoing acoustic energy. Hence
greater is the transmission loss, greater is the dissipation of sound energy
and thus more effective is the muffler

Variation of TL with frequency of pressure wave

Transmission loss

Superposition of the
plot for the two cases
clearly depicts the
increase in transmission
loss with use of
absorbing material

frequency

Analysis of Reactive Muffler

Geometric Model
A reactive muffler consists of a series
of resonating and expansion chambers
that are designed to reduce sound
pressure level at certain frequencies.

The inlet and outlet tubes are

generally offset and have
perforations that allow sound
pulses to scatter out in
numerous directions inside a
chamber resulting in destructive
interference.

Analysis of Reactive Muffler

Meshed model

Maximum element size has

been takes less 1/10th of
shortest wavelength
considered (1000 Hz in this
case)

Analysis of Reactive Muffler

The dips correspond to

resonant frequencies
of various parts of the
muffler

Thankyou
Questions?