In-situ sub-structure decoupling of resiliently coupled assemblies

The context of this paper is the increasing need for vibro-acoustic simulation across many sectors. A procedure is derived for decoupling the components of resiliently mounted assemblies. An independent characterisation of the components is obtained such that they can be mathematically recombined with other elements to form virtual assemblies or Virtual Acoustic Prototypes. Unlike standard decoupling procedures, the proposed approach does not require the assembly to be physically decoupled at any stage. It is argued that this offers significant advantages in terms of convenience and, importantly, representativeness. The boundary conditions within a physically coupled assembly are realistic by definition, which may not be the case for physically decoupled components. The procedure is validated numerically using a lumped parameter model and demonstrated experimentally through several case studies.