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We propose a novel hybrid acoustic metamaterial that can achieve broadband sound insulation below 452 Hz and almost perfect sound absorption at 864 Hz. The metastructure was fabricated using additive manufacturing. Finite element method simulations were used to study the acoustic properties of the fabricated metamaterials. An equivalent electrical circuit was built using an electro-acoustic analogy to evaluate the sound absorption coefficient. The unique design of this meta-structure possesses two resonant frequencies. Low-frequency sound insulation is found due to the effective negative density at frequencies lower than the cutoff frequency of the elastic membrane. In contrast, a negative effective bulk modulus is the reason behind the broadband sound absorption. The theoretical and simulation results were validated through experiments. Experiments carried out showed an overall average sound transmission loss of 26.31 dB between 50 and 1600 Hz and 24.72 dB in the low-frequency zone (<400 Hz). Furthermore, over 69% of the sound intensity is absorbed in the 500–1000 Hz frequency range. The designed meta-structure exhibits broadband effective negative density below 452 Hz and effective negative bulk modulus from 864 to 1220 Hz. The design specifies a sample thickness of 3.8 cm, corresponding to a subwavelength thickness of approximately λ/10. As a result, the developed meta-structure can potentially be employed for sound insulation and absorption at low frequencies in the aerospace and automotive industries and in-room acoustic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the increasing traffic noise problem, we designed a combined acoustic metamaterial (CAM) based on the multi-channel Fano resonance principle. By utilizing the Fano resonance coupling between the acoustic spiral structure and the hollow structure, efficient sound insulation under effective ventilation conditions is achieved. Simulation results of acoustic transmission loss show that the acoustic transmission loss of CAM is more than 13 dB in the frequency band of 520–989 Hz. The broadband sound insulation characteristic can block the oblique angle incident sound waves from different angles. Simulation results of the elastic strain energy and acoustic pressure field validate the sound insulation mechanism of the Fano resonance of the combined acoustic metamaterial. The experimental results in the impedance tube generally agree with the simulation results. To explore the possibility of wider engineering applications of CAM, we propose a combined CAM and CAM0.7 structure. The results show that a series structure of acoustic metamaterials can be selected to further realize broadband sound insulation within 500–1574 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-reinforcing porous mullite ceramics have attracted considerable attention in the field of insulation and sound absorption materials, due to their precise and controllable porous structure, high temperature and corrosion resistance, and low thermal conductivity. However, the high cost and relatively low performance obstruct their practical applications. In this work, self-reinforcing porous mullite ceramics were fabricated by utilizing construction waste via foam-gel casting and freeze-drying methods, and the impact of blowing agent dosage and sintering temperatures on the microstructures, sound absorption, and thermal insulation properties were systematically investigated. In addition, the related mechanism was also discussed in detail. The results show that, at a sintering temperature of 1000 °C and blowing agent dosage of 0.10 wt%, the self-reinforcing porous mullite ceramics can be successfully obtained, which exhibited a bulk density as low as 0.24 g/cm³ and porosity more than 90 %. Consequently, at a frequency of 2000 Hz, its absorption coefficient reached about 0.81. Furthermore, its thermal conductivity also decreased to about 0.06266 W/(m·K). This development not only unveils innovative avenues for the cost-effective fabrication of porous ceramics but also significantly broadens their potential applications within high-performance thermal insulation and sound absorption domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich structures possess a high stiffness-to-mass ratio, which facilitates flexural wave propagation at lower frequencies and enhances their vibration isolation and sound insulation capabilities, therefore, sandwich-like metamaterial plates with the nonlinear local oscillator is constructed in this paper to obtain adjustable bandgap in low-frequency. The buckling beam oscillator consists of a small mass, linear support spring, and buckling elastic elements for nonlinear stiffness. First, governing equations of flexural vibrations of plates are deduced based on the Hamilton principle. By utilizing the harmonic balance method (HBM), the dispersion relation of a sandwich-like plate can be determined. Theoretical analysis reveals the presence of structural bandgap ranges at lower frequencies, which are subject to the excitation amplitudes. And in order to validate the theoretical findings, the finite element method (FEM) is employed. Moreover, the influence of structural parameters, including oscillator mass, linear spring stiffness, buckling beam angle, and Young's modulus, are conducted to enhance the vibration control in the low-frequency. Interestingly, it is observed that the effectiveness of low-frequency suppression in the nonlinear metamaterial plate varies significantly across different boundary conditions. Therefore, the sandwich structures with nonlinear local oscillators can provide an effective way to suppress low-frequency vibration and maintain dynamic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the acoustic streaming effects (ASEs) and mechanisms behind the transmittance of sound in a metallic micro-cavity acoustic black hole (ABH) structure with an abrupt cross-section and examines the sound field flow characteristics inside the micro-cavity ABH under the sound excitation, such as the velocity, acceleration and pressure fields. And the sound transmission mechanisms are characterized by the ASEs which can be obtained by solving Navier–Stokes equations. The numerical results show that the sharp increase in the velocity and acceleration at the ABH tip position is the main reason for the focusing of the sound energy. And the dramatic increase in the tip cross-section reduces the acoustic streaming velocity, which is the main reason for the attenuation of the sound energy. Additionally, the thermoviscous effect of the acoustic boundary layer can also dissipate the low-frequency sound energy. The sound insulation experiment shows that the proposed micro-cavity ABH structure has a sound transmission loss (STL) of over 15 dB in the low-frequency regime. This research reveals the mechanisms of the ASE's work on the sound transmission properties of the micro-cavity ABH and provides new insight into low-frequency sound wave suppression. The ABH structure proposed in this paper has excellent strength, bearing capacity and long lifecycle, so it can be applied in the construction industry through its integrated design of structure and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence mechanism of waste rubber particles (WRPs) on the workability, mechanical properties, and sound insulation performance of recycled aggregate sound insulation mortar (RCM) were investigated. According to the principle of volume fraction replacement of recycled fine aggregate by 0 to 50%, WRPs with a particle size of 1–4 mm were incorporated in various mixtures of RCM. Each RCM mixture was tested for workability, mechanical, and sound insulation performance. Mercury intrusion porosimetry was used to analyze the distribution of pores and their sizes inside the material, and X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the characteristics of the interfacial transition zones (ITZs) between the rubber particles and the cement paste. The results showed that, owing to the hydrophobicity of WRPs, greater WRPs content led to greater fluidity of the mortar mix and a smaller water retention rate. Notably, the rubber in the mortar did not contribute to the hydration reactivity of the cement paste, but it changed the crystal morphology and pore structure of ITZ hydration products. The RCM incorporating 3–10% WRPs produced the optimal pore structure through the aggregate effect, which increased its overall compactness and mechanical performance. Further increase of WRP content significantly improved the sound insulation performance while significantly reducing the strength. Moreover, there was a clear logarithmic relationship between the strength and impact sound level index. This new knowledge can be used to prepare RCM that meets the actual strength and sound insulation requirements of the floor. Thus, the resource utilization of solid waste can be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the low-frequency line spectrum noise characteristics of power equipment noise, based on the principle of energy degradation, this paper combines the energy degradation sound insulation structure with the dynamic vibration absorption technology for the first time and applies it to the research field of noise control of power equipment in substations. Dynamic vibration absorption technology is used to effectively control low-frequency vibration and noise. Considering that there is an upper limit to the capacity of DVA, the sound-vibration energy degradation design of the transformer is completed by setting a sound insulation structure on the outside of the original transformer housing. It is analyzed that the vibration energy of the sound insulation structure in the specific frequency band is significantly reduced compared to the transformer housing, realizing efficient degradation of the vibration energy of the transformer housing and effective isolation of sound radiation. Through the optimized design of dynamic vibration absorption for the sound insulation structure, the structural sound isolation ability at the target frequency is further strengthened, and the system noise radiation level is greatly reduced under the action of multiple mechanisms at the target frequency, verifying the feasibility and high efficiency of the optimal DVAs energy degradation design of the transformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of impact sound insulation of wooden beam ceilings in Wilhelminian style houses, Part 2: Ceiling construction and flanking transmission The research deals with the influence of various parameters in the ceiling structure, such as cavity damping, screed thickness, impact sound insulation, fill and suspended ceilings, on the standard impact sound level of typical Wilhelminian style wooden beam ceilings. The measurements show that a thicker screed, softer impact sound insulation and a heavier fill significantly improve the impact sound level. Binding the fill with polyurethane instead of cement shows a significant improvement in the frequency range from 100 to 500 Hz. While cavity damping with mineral wool only contributes to a limited reduction in the standard impact sound level, decoupling the fill on an elastic intermediate layer delivers significant improvements. The measurements also show that the thickness of the paneling and the type of hangers in suspended ceilings have a significant impact on impact sound insulation. The investigations into flank impact sound transmission make it clear that flank transmission must be taken into account when planning higher requirement levels. Especially in the frequency range between 250 Hz and 800 Hz, the sound transmission of flanking components can play a significant role in the overall transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerogel performance for industrial uses can be tailored using several chemical and physical strategies. The effects of a controlled densification on polyurethane aerogels are herein studied by analyzing their textural, mechanical, sound, optical, and thermal insulating properties. The produced aerogels are uniaxially compressed to different strains (30%–80%) analyzing the consequent changes in the structures and, therefore, final properties. As expected, their mechanical stiffness can be significantly increased by compression (until 55‐fold higher elastic modulus for 80%‐strain), while the light transmittance does not noticeably worsen until it is compressed more than 60%. Additionally, the modifications produced in the heat transfer contributions are analyzed, obtaining the optimum balance between density increase and pore size reduction. The minimum thermal conductivity (14.5%‐reduction) is obtained by compressing the aerogel to 50%‐strain, where the increment in the solid conduction is surpassed by the reduction of the radiative and gas contributions. This strategy avoids tedious chemical modifications in the synthesis procedure to control the final structure of the aerogels, leading to the possibility of carefully adapting their structure and properties through a simple method such as densification. Thus, it allows to obtain aerogels for current and on‐demand applications, which is one of the main challenges in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow rebound polyurethane foam (SPUF) has been widely used due to its advantages such as sound insulation, energy absorption, and good tactile sensation. However, SPUF is prone to harden at low temperature, and its application in medical equipment and households requires significant antibacterial properties. In this paper, self‐made silicone modified polyethylene glycol (Si‐APEG) and graphene oxide supported allicin (Alc@GO) were prepared and used as low‐temperature resistant agent and antibacterial agent, respectively. Low‐temperature resistant polyurethane foam (LSPUF) and antibacterial LSPUF (ALSPUF) were prepared respectively with water as foaming agent. The morphology of ALSPUF was observed by scanning electron microscope. Properties studied include apparent core density and porosity, mechanical properties including tensile strength, 40% compressive hardness, and rebound resilience, as well as low‐temperature resistance. Effects of Si‐APEG content on the structures and properties were analyzed and the LSPUF with an Si‐APEG content of 10 wt.% showed the best comprehensive performance. Therefore, ALSPUFs with Si‐APEG content of 10 wt.% and Alc@GO content of 0–3 wt.% were prepared. The addition of Alc@GO increased the antibacterial ratio significantly without obvious effect on the structure and mechanical properties of LSPUF. The antibacterial ratio of ALSPUF reached 99.07% at a Alc@GO content of 2.5 wt.% and testing time of 60 min. This work provides an effective and feasible method for the preparation of ALSPUF which can be widely used in medical devices and households. Highlights: Silicone modified polyether is a suitable low‐temperature resistant agent for PU foam.Allicin supported on GO provides good antibacterial property for PU foam.ALSPUF has better mechanical properties than SPU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric wastes, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and scrap tyre rubber (STR), pose a significant environmental issue. PET, a thermoplastic polymer, is widely used in manufacturing bottles, PET cups, containers, fibres, films, and packaging materials. On the other hand, colossal rubber tyre waste quantities represent other environmental problems. However, PET and STR wastes are often discarded in the immediate vicinity, contributing to water resource pollution and landfill site strain. One solution is to replace aggregates in concrete mixtures with these wastes, a preferable alternative to landfill disposal because of the large volume and slow decomposition rate in landfills. Recycling PET and STR helps mitigate environmental pollution and promotes resource conservation and sustainability. This study aims to review previous research undertaken in the field and validate the findings of concrete’s fresh, mechanical, and functional characteristics. Based on the review, most studies confirmed a noticeable decline in the mechanical characteristics of mortar and concrete. However, these studies did not effectively focus on using PET and STR as sound and thermal insulation aggregates. Replacing PET and STR as aggregate in concrete can reduce thermal conductivity and acoustics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a type of acoustic metamaterial that combines a labyrinth channel with a Helmholtz cavity and a thin film. The labyrinth-opening design and thin-film combination contribute to the metamaterial's exceptional sound-insulation performance. After comprehensive research, it is observed that in the frequency range of 20–1200 Hz, this acoustic metamaterial exhibits multiple sound-insulation peaks, showing a high overall sound-insulation quality. Specifically, the first sound-insulation peak is 26.3 Hz, with a bandwidth of 13 Hz and giving a transmission loss of 56.5 dB, showing excellent low-frequency sound-insulation performance. To further understand the low-frequency sound-insulation mechanism, this paper uses the equivalent model method to conduct an acoustic–electrical analogy, construct an equivalent model of the acoustic metamaterial, and delve into the sound-insulation mechanism at the first sound-insulation peak. To confirm the validity of the theoretical calculations, physical experiments are carried out by 3D printing experimental samples. The analysis of the experimental data has yielded results that are consistent with the simulation data, providing empirical evidence for the accuracy of the theoretical model. The material has significant practical application value. Finally, various factors are studied in depth based on the established equivalent model, which can provide valuable insights for the design and practical engineering application of acoustic metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of German International Journal of Modern Science / Deutsche Internationale Zeitschrift für Zeitgenössische Wissenschaft is the property of Artmedia24 and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Honeycomb plates, due to their multi-cavity structure, exhibit excellent mechanical properties and sound insulation. Previous studies have demonstrated that altering the cell size and arrangement of honeycomb structures impacts their acoustic performance. Based on these findings, this study developed a wallboard structure with enhanced sound insulation by filling the cavities with paper fiber/cement facesheets and designing a stacked core structure. Through the reverberation chamber–anechoic chamber sound insulation experiment under 100–6300 Hz excitation and conducting orthogonal experiments from three dimensions, it was found that: (1) Compared to no filling, the filling with straw and glazed hollow bead can increase the sound transmission loss (STL) by more than 50% in the frequency bandwidth above 2000 Hz. This indicates that both types of fillings can significantly enhance the sound insulation performance of the honeycomb structure without a significant increase in economic costs. (2) The increase in paper fiber/cement facesheets improves the STL across the entire experimental bandwidth, with a maximum improvement exceeding 70%. This structural design not only offers superior sound insulation performance but also better suits practical engineering applications. (3) Increasing the number of core stacking units (from one to three), taking straw-filled paper honeycomb-core wallboards as an example, effectively increased the STL bandwidth. (4) This test enriches the application of honeycomb plates in sound insulation. Introducing fiber paper fiber/cement facesheets and eco-friendly, low-cost straw improves sound insulation and enhances the strength of honeycomb, making them more suitable for construction, particularly as non-load-bearing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce land use and avoid further pollution, incineration for power generation has become the main method for municipal solid waste treatment. This research focused on the potential for transforming Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash (MSWIBA) into a finely ground powder. The impact of the powder's fineness and the amount of water used on its effectiveness was analyzed using a method called grey theory. MSWIBA was used as a partial substitute for cement in making MSWIBA foam concrete and lightweight wall panels. By modifying the fineness and water utilization of the recycled micro-powder, its maximum activity index can be increased to 90.1. This study determined the influence of factors including apparent dry density, water–cement ratio, foaming agent dilution ratio, and admixture dosage on the strength of the recycled foam concrete, and established the optimal mix ratio. This study employed a combination of physical experiments and numerical simulations to elucidate the impact of panel material, core layer thickness, and layer sequence on sound insulation performance. The simulation results were in close agreement with the experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sandwich plate with a corrugation and auxetic honeycomb hybrid core is constructed, and its sound insulation and optimization are investigated. First, the motion governing equation of the sandwich plate is established by the third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT), and then combined with the fluid-structure coupling conditions, and the sound insulation is solved. The theoretical results are validated by COMSOL simulation results, and the effects of the structural parameter on the sound insulation are analyzed. Finally, the standard genetic algorithm is adopted to optimize the sound insulation of the sandwich plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Automobile Technology is the property of Automobile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Stockholm Public Library was realized in two distinct phases of construction in the 1920s and early 1930s, and remains a well-known work in twentieth-century architecture, with a heritage status today. While previous studies have focused on the library's architectural design, particularly its lighting, acoustics were also an important aspect of the building's design and construction. This study marks the first detailed investigation of the library's architectural acoustics, with a suite of standard measurements performed to assess and characterize the library's historical room and building acoustics. Reverberation time measurements in the library's reading rooms yielded results of about 1.5–2 s for frequencies associated with speech. A significantly longer reverberation time of 5–6 s was measured in the library's central rotunda, confirming a prominent acoustic issue in the library, where appropriate heritage discussions are needed in the future as the library undergoes a major renovation in the coming years. A comparison of the measured airborne and impact sound insulation of the 1920s and 1930s reading room ceilings also yielded interesting results. While the materials in library's two construction periods are notably different, the airborne sound insulation performance of the 1920s and 1930s floors or ceilings was comparable and in line with contemporary standards. Impact sound insulation results from the 1920s and 1930s floors, however, differed significantly, with the latter displaying a relatively poor performance. Flanking transmission effects related to historical construction details and deviations from archival plans were investigated and discussed. This work emphasizes the practical and academic importance of conducting on-site measurements, and the close mutual development of modern architecture, construction, and architectural acoustics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with 3D printing multilayered micro-perforated panels (M-MPPs) coupled with buildings materials as compressed earth block for noise reduction applications. The sound absorption coefficient α is utilized as a metric to assess the sound insulation capabilities across a frequency range spanning from 10 to 3000 Hz, then evaluated and validated by numerical and experimental methods. The FEM model developed makes it possible to predict the acoustic absorption of M-MPPs by tuning the frequency range and varying optimized acoustics parameters, considering hole-hole interaction and taking into account visco-thermal effects that are present in compressed earth blocks. It is shown that the shape of perforations and material properties including the porosity rate, arrangement in the design of multilayer micro-perforated structures are identified to play a significant role in the sound performance of the entire structure. In addition, the application of MPP coupled with compressed earth blocks improve the sound absorption capacity of the composite structure. The developed FEM leads to accurate prediction of performance, efficient optimization, and cost effectiveness. Finally, the present study reveals the importance of M-MPPs combined with compressed earth blocks (CEBs) as viable noise reduction materials, particularly relevant for engineering applications and development initiatives in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dokuz Eylul University Muhendislik Faculty of Engineering Journal of Science & Engineering / Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Fen ve Mühendislik Dergisi is the property of Dokuz Eylul Universitesi Muhendislik Fakultesi Fen ve Muhendislik Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Residential homes and apartments' cooling and heating needs account for 63% of total building energy consumption. Improvements in the properties of building envelopes are among the best ways to reduce their energy consumption. The project's general objective was to compare the performance of externally insulated and traditional envelopes of light wooden frame buildings at full scale. Two houses were constructed and equipped with relative humidity sensors and temperature probes to assess the physical properties of the building envelope. The first house was built according to the conventional method (insulation between the studs), and the second house was built according to the method with the insulation outside the wall (also known as the perfect wall). The results showed that external insulation effectively mitigates internal condensation risks by relocating dew points to the exterior surface, thereby enhancing structural durability and thermal stability. Thermographic imaging confirmed reduced thermal bridging and improved thermal performance in the externally insulated walls. Overall, this study supports, with a full-scale experiment, the adoption of external insulation as a viable strategy for enhancing energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and durability in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a class of lightweight acoustic metamaterial barriers that block low-frequency sound. The acoustic metamaterial barrier is composed of a thin rubber membrane coated over a stiff honeycomb plate. Our findings, combined with high-fidelity finite element simulations, demonstrate that the sound insulation performance of the acoustic metamaterial surpasses the mass law in three distinct frequency ranges: (a) the stiffness law dominates insulation up to 140 Hz, (b) degeneracy and destructive superposition of high-order natural modes dominate within the frequency range of 300–500 Hz, and (c) destructive interference between high-order resonance and membrane resonance dominates in the frequency range of 800–1200 Hz. Notably, our study highlights the potential of high-order shear vibration of the periodic structure for the resonant bending waves of the honeycomb cell that coincide with the wavelengths of longitudinal sound waves in air, thereby offering new design guidelines for lightweight acoustic metamaterial barriers. This study reports for the first time the coincidence of high-order and membrane resonance modes within the honeycomb cell by employing an accurate finite element model and experimental validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass timber panels including cross-laminated timber (CLT), dowel-laminated timber (DLT), and nail-laminated timber (NLT) are used increasingly as floor slabs in mass timber buildings and hybrid timber buildings. The sound insulation performance of bare mass timber structural floors is insufficient due to their lightweight and relatively high bending stiffness. Floating concrete toppings are commonly applied for improved sound insulation performance with an elastic interlayer. The effect of different elastic interlayers and thickness of concrete toppings on improving the impact sound insulation performance was investigated experimentally according to ASTM standards in this study. The results showed that with the same elastic layer, thicker concrete toppings resulted in better impact sound insulation performance with a higher apparent impact insulation class (AIIC). However, by increasing the concrete thickness from 38 to 50 mm and to 70 mm, the improvement of AIIC between two thicknesses was only within 3, and a significant improvement up to 9 was observed with a 100-mm-thick concrete topping. In general, elastic interlayers with lower dynamic stiffness values performed better; however, the performance was product dependent though the apparent dynamic stiffness was measured using the same standard method. Moreover, with the same panel thickness and wood species, a bare DLT floor provided higher AIIC (35) than a bare CLT (21), but each mass timber floor with the same interlayer and floating concrete topping had the same impact sound attenuation performance. The ISO empirical prediction equation overestimated the impact sound attenuation of floating concrete toppings on mass timber floors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A topological interlocking assembly (TIA) is an assembly of blocks together with a non-empty subset of blocks called the frame such that every non-empty set of blocks is kinematically constrained and can therefore not be removed from the assembly without causing intersections between blocks of the assembly. TIA provides a wide range of real-world applications, from modular construction in architectural design to potential solutions for sound insulation. Various methods to construct TIA have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, the approach of constructing TIA by applying the Escher trick to tilings of orientable surfaces is discussed. First, the strengths of this approach are highlighted for planar tilings, and the Escher trick is then exploited to construct a planar TIA that is based on the truncated square tiling, which is a semi-regular tiling of the Euclidean plane. Next, the Escher-Like approach is modified to construct TIAs that are based on arbitrary orientable surfaces. Finally, the capabilities of this modified construction method are demonstrated by constructing TIAs that are based on the unit sphere, the truncated icosahedron, and the deltoidal hexecontahedron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for building acoustic performance, accurately evaluating the acoustic performance of building walls has become an important research topic. However, existing research has mostly focused on general building materials such as concrete, iron and steel, and glass. For wooden structure wall, due to the sound absorption performance of the materials themselves and the complexity of structural design, the analysis of their acoustic performance is still relatively weak. Moreover, there is a lack of quantitative description of their spectral characteristics and acoustic impedance. To analyze the acoustic performance of wooden structure building walls, Building Information Model (BIM) and impedance tube method were integrated to construct a building wall performance testing system with BIM technology. The impedance tube method was applied and testing functions for sound absorption and insulation performance were designed. The outcomes indicated that in the error test, the error range between the experimental group and the control group was [0.01, 0.18], indicating a high reliability of the experimental results. In the calculation of sound insulation of different specimens at different sound frequencies, when the frequency was 1600Hz, the sound insulation of the control group and experimental group was 65.30dB and 70.14dB, proving the effectiveness of the design method. The above results demonstrate the practicality of integrating BIM technology and impedance tube method in the acoustic performance analysis of wooden structure building walls. This study provides strong technical support for reducing the indoor environment of wooden buildings and improving the comfort of people's living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving ultra-low and ultra-broad-band sound absorption and full-band sound insulation is a major challenge. Here, we propose a composite structure of a multilayer micro-perforated plate and acoustic black holes to achieve this purpose. Combining the stable sound absorption effect of the multilayer micro-perforated plate in the full frequency band and the sound insulation effect of the acoustic black hole in the low frequency and the excellent sound absorption effect in the high frequency, the excellent sound control effect of 600–3150 Hz absorption coefficient greater than 0.8 and 100–3150 Hz sound transmission loss greater than 50 dB is achieved. The acoustic properties of different components and different acoustic black hole outlet were evaluated by finite element method, and the principles of sound absorption and insulation of the composite structure were elaborated. Finally, the results of finite element method are verified by impedance tube experiments. This work can make further progress in elucidating the acoustic properties of the ABH and open up new avenues in the control of ultra-low and ultra-wide frequency acoustic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the structure size is reduced to the micro- and nano-scale, a new mechanoelectric coupling effect, the flexoelectric effect, cannot be ignored. The governing equations and boundary conditions for the sound insulation problem of thin plate acoustic metamaterial structure with the flexoelectric effects were derived by means of the variational principle. The sound insulation curves of thin plate mass blocks were predicted based on the Kirchhoff theory. The effects of flexural effects, geometric sizes and mass densities on the sound insulation performances of the structure were systematically discussed. The results show that, for the micro- and nano-scale structure sizes, the flexoelectric effect significantly increases the sound insulation valley values and peak frequencies of the sound insulation curves, so it is necessary to consider the flexoelectric effects. This work provides a theoretical basis for the research of noise control in MEMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact sound insulation in renovated Wilhelminian‐style buildings – Part 1: Problem statement and renovation options Gassner & Partner Baumanagement GmbH, in collaboration with TU Wien, conducted a study to optimize impact sound insulation in Wilhelminian‐style building renovations. Historical renovations lacked specific sound standards, causing resident disruption. The research varied parameters like screed thickness, impact sound insulation, aggregate, and suspended subceilings to assess impact sound protection per ÖNORM B 8115‐5. Initial analysis of three properties showed reasonable protection in existing wooden beam ceilings. Suspended subceilings significantly improved sound levels, with the spectrum adaptation value CI,50‐2500 crucial for higher classification. Measurements during multiple renovations demonstrated that these measures are reproducible and can exceed new construction standards, significantly enhancing living comfort in historic buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulating performance of double windows. Investigations in the test stand and in practice Box windows are essential components of our architectural heritage and have proven themselves over centuries due to their good sound and thermal insulation properties over a long lifecycle. In the course of thermal improvements of the building envelope, often historical windows are replaced by industrially manufactured constructions. The main argument for this window replacement is the high heat transfer of box windows. However, for these historical windows, measurement results from the actual existing structures are not used; instead, normatively defined default values are employed and compared with the heat transfer of insulated glass systems. These default values are three to four times higher than the laboratory values of industrially manufactured windows. Furthermore, the energy consumption of different window constructions is not evaluated over the entire lifecycle, and ecological aspects such as sustainability and repairability are rarely considered in these calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic nanofiber aerogels (CNFAs), built from ceramic fiber components, stand out for their multifunctional properties, including low density, low thermal conductivity, high porosity, compressibility, robust chemical stability, and resistance to high temperatures. The continuity of the building blocks overcomes the brittleness of ceramic aerogels and expands their applications, which makes them widely used in the fields of high-temperature thermal insulation, sound insulation, oil-water separation, seawater desalination, air filtration, and electromagnetic wave absorption. Among the current methods for preparing CNFAs, electrostatic spinning is a perfect method for producing reproducible micro-nanofibers. Direct electrostatic spinning combined with freeze casting makes it easy to prepare CNFAs with anisotropic properties, while chemical vapor deposition makes it easy to prepare aerogels with random structures. The method of solution blow spinning has advantages of high fiber productivity and low-voltage electric field relative to electrostatic spinning, and the atomic layer deposition depends on templates to produce films with formulated thickness. This review initially explores the fabrication methods of CNFAs, including electrostatic spinning, freeze casting, chemical vapor deposition, solution blow spinning, and atomic layer deposition. Subsequently, it delves into the novel applications of CNFAs in recent years in the fields of high-temperature thermal insulation, sound insulation, electromagnetic wave absorption, oil-water separation, seawater desalination, and air filtration. Moreover, the advancement of CNFAs with high-temperature thermal insulation, fire resistance, strong flexibility, and tensile properties opens up promising applications in aerospace, personal protective equipment, and flexible wearable devices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-span highway–railway double-deck truss bridges are mostly located in urban centers, where noise pollution and traffic safety issues have a great impact. The fully enclosed barrier has excellent sound insulation and windproof performance and has been widely used in double-deck truss bridges in recent years. However, the large volume and the low air permeability rate will affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the bridge, resulting in vortex-induced vibration (VIV). To analyze how the fully enclosed barrier influences the highway–railway bridge VIV performance, this study analyzes the Huangjuetuo Yangtze River Bridge, combined with the wind tunnel test and the numerical calculation method to study different variations of the static three-force coefficient, the change of VIV response, and its influence mechanism after setting the fully enclosed barrier. The results show that the static three-force coefficient of the double-deck truss bridge changes significantly, the drag coefficient increases, and the absolute values of the lift coefficient and the moment coefficient decrease after the fully enclosed barrier is set. The aerodynamic performance of the bridge is significantly reduced after the fully enclosed barrier is set, and the amplitude and range of the VIV response are increased. Vertical bending VIV increased by an average of 58.5%, and torsional VIV increased by an average of 21.9%. Considering driving comfort and safety, attention should be paid to the double-deck truss bridge with a fully enclosed barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building partition structures must meet several construction and technical parameters. During the measurement of the acoustic properties of dividing structures in real conditions, surprising results are often achieved that do not correspond to the expected values. Based on this reason, the composition of nine dividing constructions were designed. The measurements were carried out under conditions that are very close to real conditions. Measurements were performed in accordance with international standards. The monitored parameters also include acoustic parameters. In this paper, the analysis of acoustic parameters of nine building dividing structures (profiles) with different compositions was performed. The individual layers were made up of common building elements. Various statistical methods, variance analysis and regression were used in the evaluation. The apparent sound reduction index values measured for different profile types for frequencies from 100 to 3150 Hz are compared using Variance Analysis (ANOVA); the assumptions for their use are verified by the Shapiro–Wilk test and Levene Test of Homogeneity of Variances. Multiple linear regression was used to identify and analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The methods of regression and correlation analysis were used in determining the parameters that affect the resulting coefficient of weighted structural sound insulation. The total thickness of the profile and the number of layers were found to be statistically significant parameters. Based on these analyses, the coefficient of weighted structural sound insulation was determined. A clear-cut definition and identification of the single-number rating required would thus be instrumental in selecting the appropriate material for accomplishing the desired objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper two waste fillers, namely ground tire rubber (GTR) and coffee silverskin (CSS, a waste bio‐product from the coffee‐making process), have been used to produce sustainable ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber compounds vulcanized on steel sheets to fabricate rubber‐to‐steel bonded systems for industrial roofing applications. The compounds have shown good mechanical performances, with elastic moduli in the range of 13–16 MPa, tensile strength of 13–20 MPa and elongation at break >400%, and strong adhesion to the metal substrate. Moreover, the rubber‐to‐steel bonded systems present good sound insulation properties (mean sound transmission loss [STL] of 39 dB and noise level reduction in simulated hailstones impact tests of 62 dB with respect to bare steel 73 dB). Accelerated UV‐ and thermal‐aging tests have shown excellent adhesion of the compounds to the metal substrate with the CSS acting as an antioxidant agent preventing excessive polymer degradation. The selected waste‐derived materials result in promising fillers for more sustainable rubber compounds. Highlights: Waste fillers were used to produce sustainable rubber compounds.Rubber‐to‐steel bonded systems for roofing applications were produced.Rubber‐to‐steel bonded systems have good sound insulation properties.Rubber‐to‐steel bonded systems have excellent adhesion.Coffee silverskin filler acts as an antioxidant agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of cellulose and paper-based products in building acoustics. It examines various materials such as cellulose wool, paperboard, corrugated cardboard, and honeycomb panels, and evaluates their acoustic absorption and insulation properties. The results indicate that these paper-based products can be effective alternatives to traditional materials in terms of both absorption and insulation performance. The article emphasizes the potential of paper-based materials in reducing the environmental impact of the building industry. The text also discusses the resonance frequencies and properties of Helmholtz resonators and double walls with the insertion of Helmholtz resonators, providing equations and formulas to calculate their resonance frequencies and transmission loss. It describes the measurement methods used to assess the sound absorption and sound reduction properties of various materials, including cellulose and paper-based products, and presents the results obtained from these measurements. The document also discusses the dynamic properties of paperboard and the testing methods used to measure these properties, as well as the results of tests conducted on cellulose wool. It highlights the environmental benefits of using recycled materials like cellulose wool. The text provides data and analysis on the acoustic properties of various cellulose and paper-based materials used in building construction, including cellulose wool, paperboard, corrugated cardboard, and honeycomb panels. The measurements include parameters such as sound reduction index, sound absorption coefficient, and dynamic Young's modulus. The results demonstrate that these materials have different acoustic characteristics and can be utilized for sound insulation and absorption in [Extracted from the article]

The escalating demand for polyurethane rigid foams (PURF) has resulted in a substantial increase in waste polyurethane products. In view of the difficulty in recycling waste PURF, this study introduces a novel mechanical recycling process that is cost-effective and features a straightforward fabrication process for producing PUW (waste PURF combined with wood veneers), which solves the problem of low strength products obtained from mechanical recycling of PU waste. Through investigation of the PURF (ground into particles before using) particle size, core layer density, the amount of resin and thickness, the optimal fabrication process was confirmed as follows: particles with the size of 1 to 3 mm as its core layer components, 0.9 g/cm3 as its core layer density, the addition of MDI to be 20 wt%, and 8 mm thickness of whole composite. The resulting PURF-based composite exhibited superior thermal insulation properties, mechanical strength, and sound insulation performance. The optimized PUW composite had a notably low thermal conductivity of 0.04126 W/(m·K), slightly higher than that of rock wool board (0.04 W/(m·K)). In terms of mechanical performance, the wet shear strength of the optimal PUW composite reached 0.61 MPa. Furthermore, the PUW composite exhibited relatively high sound insulation, particularly at high frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich structures are widely used in various fields. Curved sandwich structures have attracted the attention of researchers owing to their superior stiffness and strength. With the application of the structures in engineering, it is required that the structures can not only meet the needs of mechanical loads but also can cope with thermal, acoustic, optical, and electrical loads. Sound insulation is one of the most common problems in the fields of aerospace, transportation, and architecture, so it is imperative to research new structures with good mechanical and acoustic properties. In this paper, a composite structure which is coupled with curve shell sandwich structure and acoustic metamaterials is proposed to obtain good mechanical and acoustic properties. Based on the harmonic expansion method and principle of virtual work, the theoretical model is established and the sound transmission loss (STL) performance is studied. Then, the effects of the geometry of the structure and material parameters on the STL of the structure are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA star-shaped auxetic cellular metamaterial with a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) was employed in this study to model lightweight sandwich panels, and an analysis of its sound transmission characteristics was conducted. Utilizing the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the Hamiltonian principle, the free vibration equation for the sandwich plate is derived. Subsequently, leveraging the fluid-structure coupling condition and incorporating the Navier method, the sound transmission loss (STL) is analytically described. The efficacy of the proposed method is validated through numerical analysis and an acoustic insulation experiment using an impedance tube. Based on the theoretical modeling, it is calculated that the sound insulation effect of the star-shaped cellular core exceeds that of the traditional reentrant cellular with NPR. A systematic analysis is subsequently conducted to explore the impact of star-shaped cellular structure parameters on the STL of the sandwich panel. It can be obtained that the increase in core layer thickness leads to a reduction in the first-order resonance frequency of the sandwich panel, but concurrently diminishing its sound insulation performance. The change of the connecting rib length exerts a more considerable influence on the structure’s STL compared to the side rib length. While as the cell wall thickness reduces from 2.0 to 1.0 mm, the average STL of the sandwich plate across the analysis band decreases by 8.43%, from 46.3 to 42.7 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research work is focused on the acoustic response analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich cylindrical shell structure immersed in convected fluids. In the analysis, two common types of FGM sandwich cylindrical shells are considered, which include one with FGM face shell and homogeneous ceramic or metal core, and the other with FGM core and homogeneous face shell. Given the structure is immersed in a mean flowing fluid of velocity tangential to the acoustically deformed boundary and it is excited by an incidence oblique plane wave. Fluid–structure coupling is considered by imposing velocity continuity condition at fluid–structure interfaces. By comparing the numerical results with the existing solutions in open literature, the validity of the proposed theoretical model is verified. Finally, based on the developed theoretical mode, the influences of the gradient index, sandwich type, external mean flow, and skin-core-skin ratios on the structural sound transmission performance of FGM sandwich cylindrical shell have been investigated, wherein the first resonance dip shift noticeably to high frequency as the Mach number is increased, and case II has the largest amplitude fluctuation and the lowest STL curve magnitudes, in addition, when M 1 = M 2 > 1.2 , two branches, including positive refraction branch and the negative refraction branch, are found in the contour plots under opposite flow direction conditions, and the large skin-core-skin ratio is beneficial to improve the sound insulation characteristics of structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral metamaterials have been proven to possess many appealing mechanical phenomena, such as negative Poisson's ratio, high-impact resistance, and energy absorption. This work extends the applications of chiral metamaterials to underwater sound insulation. Various chiral metamaterials with low acoustic impedance and proper stiffness are inversely designed using the topology optimization scheme. Low acoustic impedance enables the metamaterials to have a high and broadband sound transmission loss (STL), while proper stiffness guarantees its robust acoustic performance under a hydrostatic pressure. As proof-of-concept demonstrations, two specimens are fabricated and tested in a water-filled impedance tube. Experimental results show that, on average, over 95% incident sound energy can be isolated by the specimens in a broad frequency range from 1 kHz to 5 kHz, while the sound insulation performance keeps stable under a certain hydrostatic pressure. This work may provide new insights for chiral metamaterials into the underwater applications with sound insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biowall is one of the several innovative strategies people use to build a comfortable interior atmosphere with living plants. This research attempts to trace the gaps in the previous analysis as a 'state of the art' with a literature review method by focusing on the biowall method, area ratio and types of plants. Biowall performance is mainly related to the influence of thermal, visual, audial, and respiratory comfort. It is an essential topic used to induce atmospheric interiors, such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, sound insulation and absorption, CO2, HCHO, VOC, and particulate levels. The results showed that the empirical methods used were actual scale-up and down experiments, laboratories in test chambers, simulation with specific software, and case research on in-situ biowall. The comparison between the biowall and room size varied significantly due to the absence of a legal basis and reasons. Ferns and succulents were the most widely used species to induce atmospheric comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research on biowall physical comfort based on multisensory simultaneously and determine its standard dimension and digital integration. Subsequent researchers must further discuss home-scale biowall acceleration and utilization of food-medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials obtained by sintering glass microspheres are considered the promising ones for the underwater technology. The high indicators of the hydrostatic strength combined with the heat and sound insulation properties are due to the microspheres maintaining their shapes as close to the spherical as possible. The computer model of the temperature distribution is developed based on the physical and chemical conceptions of the glass composites structure formation by sintering the glass microspheres of sodium borosilicate composition and processing the experimental results of the temperature measurements. The modeling methodology is based on the principles of decomposition of the task by the researcher and ranking the temperature and time parameters. The ratio of the hydrostatic strength to the density of the samples is taken as a functional criterion and the software application is written in the Python language. The experimental setup that is used for sintering the glass microspheres enables to study the temperature fields and thermal deformation processes in real-time conditions. The coefficients of thermal conductivity of sintering are determined by the regular mode method. The results obtained are aimed at solving one of the most important scientific and practical issues of developing technologies for manufacturing glass composites for strategic purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise pollution is growing nowadays and there is always a conflict between ventilation and noise insulation. The advances in acoustic metamaterials provide an effective solution for this conflict. In this paper, we propose a metastructure with protruded necks based on Helmholtz resonance. Sound transmission loss (STL) of 13 dB at low-frequency of 488 Hz is obtained in experiment with the ventilation of 20%, which is in good agreement with the simulation. It is revealed that introduction of protruded neck can reduce the resonant frequency. Sound absorption is the main mechanism for noise insulation at low frequency. Next, the effects of geometric parameters on sound insulation are discussed. A reduction in cross-sectional area of neck, an increase in neck length, and an increase in ventilation all lead to a decrease in both resonant frequencies and STL amplitudes. Finally, a two-layer structure is constructed by the proposed metastructure with different neck length in each unit. Both the amplitude and frequency range of STL are enlarged. These results exhibit a practical application for ventilated metastructure in sound insulation at low frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core layer is very important in studying the vibration and noise problems of sandwich structures. The present paper studied the free vibration and sound insulation characteristics of FG-CNTRC sandwich plates with FG-CNT face sheets and different cores including the soft core (epoxy), hard core (aluminum) and porous metal foam core with different porosity distributions. By Hamilton's principle the dynamic equations of FG-CNTRC sandwich plates are formulated based on the third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT), and the sound insulation expression is given under the excitation of the sound pressure. The theoretical solution of natural frequency and sound insulation are compared with the finite element simulation results and validated. The natural frequency of the square sandwich plate are compared with the rectangular case. The free vibration and sound insulation performance of FG-CNTRC sandwich plates are analyzed and discussed, and parametric studies are performed to evaluate the effects of CNT volume fraction, CNT distribution patterns, CNT orientation angles, porosity coefficient and incident angles on the vibro-acoustic characteristics of the sandwich plate. Some new results are presented to be used as references for the further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern science and technology constantly require new and novel materials with special properties. Over the past decade, Nanocomposites materials have received significant attention as active materials in components ranging from sensors to biomaterials, electronics devices to structural parts. These novel composites have applications in many areas, such as energy, insulation, manufacturing, and the modern building industry. However, not all applications have the same requirements in terms of acoustic insulation, so it is useful to adapt the kind of core materials and their product specifications, such as particle size and porosity, to the different applications. Furthermore, in some applications, cheaper core materials, like precipitated silica, would be a reasonable alternative to replace the time-consuming series of measurements. Because of many bad conditions that affect acoustic insulation properties in modern buildings. And to summarize recent applications of nanotechnology as they relate to textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics for improving acoustic insulation in modern buildings and civilian communities, this paper discusses the ability to apply 3D woven spacer fabric (3DWSF) composite materials reinforced with epoxy, rigid polyurethane foam, and silica nanoporous particles, which were prepared by the sol-gel technique. Four samples had been prepared, all of these samples were textile composite materials, and reinforced with two types of nano silica 99.8% SiO2; mesoporous Ns particles with porosity up to 83%, true density 0.08 g/cm³, and particle size between 100 and 2000 nm and pore size 70–150 nm, which had been prepared by Sol-gel technique, and nonporous Aerosil®200 particles with surface area 200–225 m2/g, true density 0.25 g/cm³, and particle size between 2 and 20 nm. We used rigid polyurethane foam as core material, and epoxy resin for laminating the fabric. 3D spacer E-glass fabrics, and chopped E-glass microfibers had been used. The weight percentage of silica nano particles which were used in this research was 5% by weight, which was better for economic reasons, and enough, to enhance the acoustic absorption coefficient up to R w = 99.79%. The best sound absorption could be achieved by using mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and soundproofing of an insulator using this porous structure is better than using a nonporous one. We found in this research that the thickness 45 mm and semi-porosity structure of the 3DWSF composite insulator material were enough to make a difference, with reference to the thermal and acoustic insulation guide of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]