ABSTRACT Noise control in fluid structures is significant to improve the performance of the system, reduce noise pollution, and ensure structural integrity in many engineering applications. Although past studies have mainly studied fluid–structure interaction and acoustics individually, the present study fills this gap and presents a coupled study of fluid flow over an elastic baffle, considering the interaction among fluid flow, structural deformation, and acoustic emissions. The effect of the elastic baffle on velocity, pressure, and induced vibration frequency is evaluated to examine how it affects fluid movement and the minimization of noise. A finite element and a Galerkin method are utilized to perform discretization. Among the most significant findings, there is a 50% decrease in noise transmission along with a 50% decrease in the length of the baffle, supporting the idea that geometric optimization can be employed to manage noise. The baffle height also results in a 27% transmission enhancement of noise. This understanding can be a foundation of optimization and enhancement of baffle layout, particularly in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), automotive exhaust systems, and aerospace components, where sound mitigation is an important consideration. The study also offers a better understanding of fluid–structure–acoustic interactions and a practical solution for noiseless, more efficient systems.
Adibi et al. (2026) studied this question.