Abstract
The paper presents an overall numerical approach for the simulation and design of smart lightweight structures in order to control vibration and noise. The design process requires an overall virtual computer model, which includes the passive mechanical structure, the acoustic fluid, the active materials, such as piezoelectric patch actuators glued to the structure, as well as the controller. Based on the finite element method such an overall model is presented in the paper. An acoustic box is used to verify the computational approach by comparing simulated and measured results.