## New ”light-weight” SEA software – why bother? Examples of practical small and large applications

Juha Plunt, Müller-BBM Scandinavia AB

Marieholmsgatan 9

SE-415 02 Göteborg

E-mail: juha.plunt@muellerbbm.se

Small- and mid-size companies that are dealing with sound and vibration issues or consulting services have always had a limited selection of affordable software for basic statistical energy analysis work. The supply has not become better during the last 10 years, and licenses for available commercial products are currently quite expensive and practically out of reach for other than really large companies which extensively use the method.

A new version of software for basic, “classic” SEA is presented. It is developed as an enthusiast project by the author. It is aimed to satisfy users without the direct need for 3-D modeling features and other features that are not really part of the basic method. It uses a simple but illustrative network model diagram as the graphical interface, originally introduced as a concept in the first versions of the well known Auto-SEA™ software. This limits the programming work to the essentials of the SEA calculations and presentation of results. It is programmed in Microsoft Visual Basic 2005™ and relies extensively on Microsoft SQL databases for model and general data storage and access. The software is believed to be well adapted to educational needs as well as the needs of analysts with a relatively good knowledge of the fundamentals of SEA and its application limits. It runs on all Windows platforms, including 64-bit versions.

A couple of practical examples are presented. The use of a relatively small SEA model during the very early concept study of a new product is shown as well as a comprehensive modeling of a large built-up structure such as a ship or an off-shore platform.