Galerkin Generalized Least Squares finite element methods for time-harmonic structural acoustics Original Research Article

Galerkin Generalized Least Squares (GGLS) finite element methods are developed and implemented for modeling the response of fluid-loaded structures. A general formalism for the application of this methodology to problems in structural acoustics (the vibration of an elastic structure in contact with an acoustic medium) is presented. A consistent approach for the development and implementation of the design parameters inherent to the GGLS methods for coupled problems is given. This general methodology is then applied to an exterior problem of a fluid-loaded Reissner-Mindlin plate. Complex wave-number dispersion analysis and numerical experiments demonstrate clearly the reduction of storage requirements and solution time of the new GGLS methods over standard discretization techniques.