Towards an a priori estimate of Statistical Energy Analysis reliability

The basic hypotheses of Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) define the range of applicability of this method. In this paper these hypotheses involving the SEA parameters (coupling loss factor, damping loss factor, modal density and modal overlap) are mathematically translated. Mechanical systems with different SEA parameters have dissimilar trends at different frequency regions. The possibility of determining reliable SEA solutions is related to a close correspondence between the values of such parameters and the ones that would be fulfilled by the determined mathematical relationships. A simple though significant test is presented to verify the accuracy of these conclusions, by comparing the SEA solution with a classical deterministic solution of a vibro-acoustic mechanical system.