Application of the complex envelope vectorization to a benchmark made of three coupled plates

The complex envelope vectorization (CEV) is an alternative technique to SEA and other recent energy methods developed to study high frequency problems. Notwithstanding the large efforts devoted to this topic for many years, there is not yet an appropriate technique to tackle it efficiently. In the framework of an Italian research project "Novel methods for the analysis and control of vibro-acoustic systems" the University of Naples and the University of Rome have by their own developed two methods (ASMA and CEV, respectively) that have been applied quite successfully to a benchmark made of three plates coupled together, providing quite interesting results. In this paper the CEV method is described and a critical analysis is carried out on the limits and advantages of this procedure. Although it is shown that CEV can be efficiently applied in principle to systems characterized by a relevant damping, the application of the method to the considered benchmark shows that the quality of results is very attractive even when a standard structural damping is considered. Thus, one can now begin to look at CEV as a promising approach to the solution of vibro-acoustic problems.