Experimental evaluation of an optimum amount of probes used in PNCAR for airborne transfer path analysis

The Panel Noise Contribution Analysis Referenced Related (PNCAR) measurement method carries out the airborne reciprocal Transfer Path Analysis (TPA). In comparison to the conventional pressure based techniques the method is fast and robust. It employs a small amount of PU probes, a monopole sound source and a microphone. Typically the investigated surface is subdivided into several measurement sessions and those further into panels. The method synthesizes individual panel sound pressure contributions in order to predict the sound pressure at an arbitrary reference position. A global validation of the method had been performed by comparing the synthesized and referenced sound pressure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate what amount of panels (sensor positions) is needed for accurately predicting the reference sound pressure. As a consequence of this, an empirical relationship between the amount of panels and analysis frequency limits has been proposed.