Experimental and numerical study of Advanced Transfer Path Analysis applied to a box prototype

Advanced Transfer Path Analysis (ATPA) is a technique that allows the characterisation of vibroacoustic systems not only from the point of view of contributions but also topologically by means of the path concept. Some of the aspects addressed in the current research such as the proper characterisation of the less contributing paths remained not proven. ATPA is applied to a cuboid-shaped box. The simplicity of this vibroacoustic system helps to make a detailed analysis of the ATPA method in a more controlled environment than in situ measurements in trains, wind turbines or other mechanical systems with complex geometry, big dimensions and movement. At the same time, a numerical model (based on finite elements) of the box is developed. The agreement between the experimental measurements and the numerical results is good. The numerical model is used in order to perform tests that cannot be accomplished in practise. The results are helpful in order to verify hypotheses, provide recommendations for the testing procedures and study some aspects of ATPA such as the reconstruction of operational signals by means of direct transfer functions or to quantify and understand which are the transmission mechanisms in the box.