Mechanisms of active control of sound transmission through a linked double-wall system into an acoustic cavity

The mechanism of active control on sound transmission through a mechanically linked double-wall structure into an acoustic cavity is investigated in this paper. Two control methods, i.e., structural control and acoustic control under two linkage cases (soft and hard) are investigated to analyze the effect of the links on the selection of control strategies and the corresponding control mechanisms. Simulations are performed to examine the dominant control mechanism (modal suppression or modal rearrangement) in different frequency ranges for each control case. The alteration in the structural-acoustic coupling is also analyzed so as to explain the mechanisms of sound attenuation. In addition, the dominance of the acoustic mode (0, 0, 0) in the energy transmission process as well as its use in designing a more effective sensor/actuator arrangement is discussed.