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The use of porous concrete solutions with lightweight aggregates has become increasingly common in noise control due to their versatility in exterior and interior applications. In this work, samples of porous consolidated concrete with aggregates of expanded clay were produced, in order to study the influence of the grain size, thickness and water/aggregate/cement ratio on the sound absorption. Experimental techniques were used to obtain the surface impedance and sound absorption coefficient. In addition to experimental characterizations, an inverse method was used (based on a genetic algorithm) to obtain the macroscopic parameters capable of representing the materials studied through the theoretical model of Horoshenkov-Swift. Using the theoretical Horoshenkhov-Swift model it becomes possible to represent these materials in numerical models as equivalent fluids.

The use of sustainable materials is becoming a common practice for noise abatement in building and civil engineering industries. In this context, many applications have been found for porous concrete made from lightweight aggregates. This work investigates the acoustic properties of porous concrete made from arlite and vermiculite lightweight aggregates. These natural resources can still be regarded as sustainable since they can be recycled and do not generate environmentally hazardous waste. The experimental basis used consists of different type specimens whose acoustic performance is assessed in an impedance tube. Additionally, a simple theoretical model for granular porous media, based on parameters measurable with basic experimental procedures, is adopted to predict the acoustic properties of the prepared mixes. The theoretical predictions compare well with the absorption measurements. Preliminary results show the good absorption capability of these materials, making them a promising alternative to traditional porous concrete solutions.

In the present paper, a methodology is proposed for obtaining empirical equations describing the sound absorption characteristics of an absorbing material obtained from natural fibers, specifically from coconut. The method, which was previously applied to other materials, requires performing measurements of air-flow resistivity and of acoustic impedance for samples of the material under study. The equations that govern the acoustic behavior of the material are then derived by means of a least-squares fit of the acoustic impedance and of the propagation constant. These results can be useful since they allow the empirically obtained analytical equations to be easily incorporated in prediction and simulation models of acoustic systems for noise control that incorporate the studied materials.