Examination of multi-dimensional vibration isolation measures and their correlation to sound radiation over a broad frequency range

This article examines alternate vibration isolation measures for a multi-dimensional system. The isolator and receiver are modelled by the continuous system theory. The source is assumed to be rigid and both force and moment excitations are considered. Our analysis is limited to a linear time-invariant system, and the mobility synthesis method is adopted to describe the overall system behavior. Inverted ‘L’ beam and plate receivers are employed here to incorporate the contribution of their in-plane motions to vibration powers and radiated sound. Multi-dimensional transmissibilities and effectivenesses are comparatively evaluated along with power-based measures for the inverted ‘L’ beam receiver and selected source configurations. Further, sound pressures radiated from the inverted ‘L’ beam receiver are calculated and correlated with power transmitted to the receiver. Interactions within the ‘L’ beam receiver are also analyzed and measures that could identify dominant transfer paths within a system are examined. Sound measurements and predictions for the inverted ‘L’ plate receiver demonstrate that a rank order based on free field sound pressures, at one or more locations, may be regarded as a measure of isolation performance. Measured insertion losses for sound pressure match well with those based on computed results although further study is needed in relation to some discrepancies shown in the results. Finally, several emerging research topics are identified.