Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Question: What is the difference between the Student Edition (SE) and the full version of the FastBEM Acoustics® software?

Answer: The student edition has the full functionalities as the full version, except that the BEM solvers can only solve models with a limited number of elements (DOFs) in the models. You can use this version to test the sample models included in the package for learning how to use the software or solve your own BEM models for studying the acoustic BEM.

 

Question: What are the meanings or uses of those videos generated by the FastBEM Acoustics® software and those presented at your website?

Answer: We believe that sound propagations are better understood by visualization. Therefore, we added this unique feature in our software for users to see the sound propagation through animations using their models. Currently, the videos can show the sound propagation at a single frequency (time-harmonic responses). They can be used to evaluate the sound propagation patterns, directions, intensities, and others, that are not easy to see using individual contour plots.

 

Question: What is unique about the FastBEM Acoustics® software as compared with other acoustic modeling software in the market?

Answer: The FastBEM Acoustics® software is relatively new in the market. However, its core engine, the BEM research code for modeling acoustic problems, has been in continuing development for the last 20 years. Developing efficient BEM code is not straightforward, because of the many intricacies in the formulations and related implementations. For example, which BIE formulations to apply, what types of elements to use, how to deal with singular integrals, irregular frequencies, thin shape breakdowns, and so on, accuractely and yet efficiently. The FastBEM Acoustics® software is built upon all the experiences accumulated in the last 20 years in the BEM research for modeling acoustic problems, as well as the latest techniques using the fast multipole and ACA methods. In addition, our fast multipole BEM is not simply a straightforward implementation of the original fast multipole method. We have implemented an adaptive, multilevel, dual BIE approach with fast integration and efficient memory management, that can deliver near O(N) efficiency. The FastBEM Acoustics® software can solve large BEM models routinely with the DOFs in the range of 500,000 to 3,000,000 on a PC within hours, that has not been matched by any other acoustic modeling software on the market.

 

Question: What are your long-term goals in developing the FastBEM Acoustics® software? What will be the enhancements in the near future?

Answer: Our long-term goals are to constantly enhance the functionality of the software and improve its computing efficiencies while keeping the accuracy intact. Acoustic models with several millions of DOFs should be solved within hours on a desktop PC with the tolerance for convergence below 1.E-4 and frequency range up to ka (nondimensional wavenumber) equal to a few hundreds. Other fast solution techniques may be combined with the fast multipole and ACA methods to achieve these goals. Our planned short-term enhancements include incorporating other types of acoustic media, interfaces with more FEA software, a robust GUI, and others.

 

Question: I am a professor/post-doc researcher/graduate student/research assistant doing research related to modeling acoustic problems, can I get a free license for the full version of the FastBEM Acoustics® software?

Answer: Yes, we promote the use of the FastBEM Acoustics® software in academic research by providing low cost or even free licenses to faculties at universities. In exchange, we would like to receive some feedback or showcases from academic users who have obtained a free license. The request for a free license should be made by a permanent faculty member at a qualified institute of higher education. Please contact us if you wish to apply FastBEM Acoustics® software in your classroom teaching and/or student thesis research projects. A free Student Edition is also available for download. Check the Download page.