Statistical energy analysis, energy distribution models and system modes

Expressions for the energy influence coefficients of a built-up structure are found in terms of the modes of the whole structure. These coefficients relate the time and frequency average energies of the subsystems to the subsystem input powers. Rain-on-the-roof excitation over a frequency band Ω is assumed. It is then seen that the system can be described by an SEA model only if a particular condition involving the mode shapes of the system is satisfied. Broadly, the condition holds if the mode shapes of the modes in the frequency band of excitation are, on average, typical enough of all the modes of the system in terms of the distribution of energy throughout the system. If this condition is satisfied then the system can be modelled using an “quasi-SEA” approach, irrespective of the level of damping or of the strength of coupling. However, the resulting model need not be of a proper SEA form, and in particular the indirect coupling loss factors may not be negligible.