Variable kinematic finite element models of multilayered composite plates coupled with acoustic fluid

This article presents a novel and advanced finite element formulation of the structural-acoustic problem involving thin and thick multilayered composite plates coupled with a cavity. Exploiting the Carrera's unified formulation, many plate and fluid-structure interface elements based on different kinematic models, including higher-order equivalent single-layer and layerwise theories, are developed within a single mathematical framework. Accordingly, a large number of vibro-acoustic models can be easily obtained and selected according to the accuracy requirements of the application. In particular, it is shown that refined models can be adopted in those cases where models relying on traditional or low-order plate theories fail in providing the correct estimation of the fluid-structure coupling. The proposed formulation is also validated with respect to some reference cases available in the literature.