A Plane and Thin Panel with Representative Simply Supported Boundary Conditions for Laboratory Vibroacoustic Tests

A technique to setup a simply supported rectangular plane panel for laboratory vibroacoustic tests is described and validated. For a given panel fixed to thin vertical supports, a dimensionless parameter is proposed to size these supports following a desired frequency precision compared to theoretical eigenfrequencies of a panel with such boundary conditions. A numerical study confirms the potential of this design parameter. Detailed instructions for assembling a panel with adequate thin vertical supports on a rigid frame are then given. Finally, three laboratory cases are described which illustrate possible experimental vibroacoustic applications using a panel assembled following previous guidelines. The design parameter viability is experimentally confirmed, and all obtained results depicted good agreement with analytical solutions and numerical predictions.