A comparison of impedance models for the inverse estimation of the non-acoustical parameters of granular absorbers

An impedance model relates acoustic properties of porous materials with non-acoustical parameters. Although such parameters can be measured, specific equipment is required for each of them, so that numerical methods have been proposed for estimating their value from a more manageable measurement of the normal incidence absorption coefficient in an impedance tube. This inverse procedure requires both an impedance model and an inversion technique. This paper compares four impedance models, Miki, Hamet–Berengier, Johnson–Allard–Champoux and Champoux–Stinson, when Simulated Annealing is used for the inverse estimation of the non-acoustical parameters of three granular materials, consisting of packings of small spherical glass beads of different diameters. Some of these parameters have also been measured, so that they can be compared with these estimated by the proposed inverse method.     

Evaluation of the acoustic and non-acoustic properties of sound absorbing materials using a three-microphone impedance tube

This paper presents a straightforward application of an indirect method based on a three-microphone impedance tube setup to determine the non-acoustic properties of a sound absorbing porous material. First, a three-microphone impedance tube technique is used to measure some acoustic properties of the material (i.e., sound absorption coefficient, sound transmission loss, effective density and effective bulk modulus) regarded here as an equivalent fluid. Second, an indirect characterization allows one to extract its non-acoustic properties (i.e., static airflow resistivity, tortuosity, viscous and thermal characteristic lengths) from the measured effective properties and the material open porosity. The procedure is applied to four different sound absorbing materials and results of the characterization are compared with existing direct and inverse methods. Predictions of the acoustic behavior using an equivalent fluid model and the found non-acoustic properties are in good agreement with impedance tube measurements.     

A simple empirical model of polyester fibre materials for acoustical applications

A new empirical model has been developed by the authors to predict the flow resistivity, acoustic impedance and sound absorption coefficient of polyester fibre materials. The parameters of the model have been adjusted to best fit the values of airflow resistivity and sound absorption coefficient measured over a set of 38 samples. Calculated results are compared with normal incidence measurements carried out using two different techniques: the transfer-function method in an impedance tube (ISO 10534-2) and the free-field impulse response method (ISO 13472-1). Measurements performed on polyester fibre materials with different density and thickness values, and diameter ranging from 18 to 48 μm, are in good agreement with the predictions of the new model. It is concluded that the new model can predict the basic acoustic properties of common polyester fibre materials with any practical combination of thickness and density².     

Inverse acoustical characterization of natural jute sound absorbing material by the particle swarm optimization method

For modeling of jute as acoustic material, knowledge of its non-acoustical parameters like porosity, tortuosity, air flow resistivity, thermal and viscous characteristic lengths is a prime requisite. Measurement of these non-acoustical parameters is not straightforward and involves a dedicated measurement setup. So in order to overcome this issue, the inverse acoustical characterization can be used. In this paper, the particle swarm optimization method (PSO) is used as an optimization method. This method estimates the non-acoustical parameters of jute material in felt form by minimizing the error between experimental and theoretical sound absorption data. In this work, the impedance prediction models for fibrous materials like Johnson–Champoux–Allard model with rigid and limp frame and Garai–Pompoli model is used for sound absorption coefficient calculation by the transfer matrix method along with the PSO. The inverse estimated non-acoustical parameters for jute material are then compared with estimated and experimentally measured parameters for jute felts. Using these inversely predicted parameters, sound absorption of multilayer sound absorbers is also studied.     

Experimental measurements of acoustical properties of snow and inverse characterization of its geometrical parameters

Snow is a sound absorbing porous sintered material composed of solid matrix of ice skeleton with air (+water vapour) saturated pores. Investigation of snow acoustic properties is useful to understand the interaction between snow structure and sound waves, which can be further used to devise non-destructive way for exploring physical (non-acoustic) properties of snow. The present paper discusses the experimental measurements of various acoustical properties of snow such as acoustic absorption coefficient, surface impedance and transmission losses across different snow samples, followed by inverse characterization of different geometrical parameters of snow. The snow samples were extracted from a natural snowpack and transported to a nearby controlled environmental facility at Patsio, located in the Great Himalayan range of India. An impedance tube system (ITS), working in the frequency range 63–6300 Hz, was used for acoustic measurements of these snow samples. The acoustic behaviour of snow was observed strongly dependent upon the incident acoustic frequency; for frequencies smaller than 1 kHz, the average acoustic absorption coefficient was found below than 0.4, however, for the frequencies more than 1 kHz it was found to be 0.85. The average acoustic transmission loss was observed from 1.45 dB cm⁻¹ to 3.77 dB cm⁻¹ for the entire frequency range. The real and imaginary components of normalized surface impedance of snow samples varied from 0.02 to 7.77 and −6.05 to 5.69, respectively. Further, the measured acoustic properties of snow were used for inverse characterization of non-acoustic geometrical parameters such as porosity, flow resistivity, tortuosity, viscous and thermal characteristic lengths using the equivalent fluid model proposed by Johnson, Champoux and Allard (JCA). Acoustically derived porosity and flow resistivity were also compared with experimentally measured values and good agreement was observed between them.     

Sustainable acoustic absorbers from the biomass

There is currently considerable interest in developing sustainable absorbers, either from biomass materials or recycled materials, and it is the former that is the subject of this paper. A number of potential candidate materials are available from the biomass in the form of organic fibres. Non-fibrous materials, such as configurations of whole straw or reed, can also act as sound absorbers. A combination of impedance tube and reverberation chamber measurements have been carried out for a number of biomass materials and the effectiveness of current models for the prediction of the absorptive properties of natural fibres has been investigated. Examination of the acoustical characteristics of a range of natural fibres has confirmed their effectiveness as porous sound absorbers and also the limitations of current models for predicting their performance. Examination of the acoustical performance of materials consisting of different configurations of whole reeds and straws has revealed that these also possess considerable potential for application as broadband sound absorbers with particularly good low frequency absorption characteristics. The combination of natural fibres and whole reeds offer the possibility of developing a range of sustainable absorbers which act very effectively across the complete audio frequency range.     

高声压级时多孔金属板的吸声特性研究

针对高声压级下有限厚度多孔金属板在线性阻抗背衬条件下(背衬表面声压与声质点速度为线性关系)的吸声问题,提出了一个描述不同声压级下材料层法向吸声性能的一维模型,并给出求解材料层内部声质点速度的线化与差分方法,以预测多孔金属板在高声压级下的非线性吸声特性。在阻抗管中对两块多孔金属板进行了声学测试,得到了材料层法向表面阻抗和吸声系数随入射声压级变化的实验结果。研究表明:实验与理论预测符合良好,验证了模型与数值方法的正确性。本文所提原理和方法,可用于一般硬质多孔材料。      

穿纤维微穿孔板吸声系数的有限元仿真

为拓宽微穿孔板的吸声频带,该文用有限元算法建立了典型微穿孔板和穿入不同数量金属纤维的微穿孔板模型,研究了两种微穿孔板的吸声系数、声阻抗和微孔内法向质点速度的空间分布,并进行了试验验证。有限元仿真和试验数据表明:穿入金属纤维可以拓宽微穿孔板的吸声频带,吸声系数也随纤维根数的增加而下降;吸声系数仿真结果与试验结果趋势一致,仿真模型可以有效模拟穿入纤维前后微穿孔板的吸声特性;穿入金属纤维导致黏滞效应引起的低质点速度区域增大,声阻增加,引起吸声系数的降低,而声抗变化不大。研究发现,有限元仿真方法适用于结构相对复杂的微穿孔结构的声学建模,能直观地体现微孔复杂结构的影响,值得继续深入研究和工程应用。     

Bright and dark solitons in the normal dispersion regime of inhomogeneous optical fibers: Soliton interaction and soliton control

Symbolically investigated in this paper is a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the varying dispersion and nonlinearity for the propagation of optical pulses in the normal dispersion regime of inhomogeneous optical fibers. With the aid of the Hirota method, analytic one- and two-soliton solutions are obtained. Relevant properties of physical and optical interest are illustrated. Different from the previous results, both the bright and dark solitons are hereby derived in the normal dispersion regime of the inhomogeneous optical fibers. Moreover, different dispersion profiles of the dispersion-decreasing fibers can be used to realize the soliton control. Finally, soliton interaction is discussed with the soliton control confirmed to have no influence on the interaction. The results might be of certain value for the study of the signal generator and soliton control.     

基于漫反射光谱的组织光学参数测量系统与方法研究

在体组织光学参数测量是生物医学光子学研究重点,不仅为人体成分无创检测、光学成像、光动力疗法等研究提供基础,并且可以快速获取人体光学参数变化,为临床诊断提供依据。研究了利用单一源探距离漫反射光谱在体测量光学参数的测量系统与反构方法。漫反射光谱测量系统由宽谱光源、高分辨光纤光谱仪及光纤探头组成,结构简单,测量方便,可准确快速测量样品漫反射光谱。在光纤探头几何形状基础上,研究了光纤收集及系统传递函数,在此基础上对反构算法进行了校正。光学参数反构算法中正向模型基于Monte Carlo以及神经网络方法,适用光学参数范围大,计算速度快;逆向算法采用主成分分析与非线性建模拟合相结合的方法,可抑制测量噪声影响。在测量系统及反构算法基础上,进行了组织仿体光学参数测量实验,结果表明,利用单一源探距离下漫反射谱,可以较为准确获取吸收系数以及约化散射系数,均方根误差分别达到4.58%以及7.92%。为保证系统测量准确性,测量波长范围应覆盖样品中所含吸收物质吸收峰范围。所研究的在体组织光学参数测量方法为人体成分无创检测及测量条件变化获取提供了基础。     

Design of a single layer micro-perforated sound absorber by finite element analysis

Micro-perforated sound absorbers with sub-millimeter size holes can provide high absorption coefficients. This paper presents results of work on the development of an effective single layer micro-perforated sound absorber from the commercial composite material Parabeam^® with micro diameter holes drilled on one side. Parabeam^® is used as a structural material made from a fabric woven out of a E-glass yarn and consists of two decklayers bonded together by vertical piles in a sandwich structure with piles (thick fibers) woven into the decklayers. The paper includes, the analytical model developed for prediction of absorption coefficients, finite element solution using commercial software MSC.ACTRAN and experimental results obtained from impedance tube measurements. A simple optimization is performed based on the developed models to obtain an efficient absorber configuration. It has been anticipated that several different and interesting applications can be deduced by combining structural and sound absorption properties of this new micro-perforated absorber.     

Loss measurements in graded-index compound-glass fibers

The optical fiber scattering loss coefficient is measured directly in a scattering sphere or deduced indirectly from total loss measurements. The results show agreement for graded-index silica-based fibers, but they seem conflicting for graded-index compound-glass fibers. This is explained from the diffusion-controlled refractive index profile and the ensuing mode-dependent scattering and absorption loss due to the different optical properties of core and cladding glass. Using this model the two-lengths total loss measurement method is discussed. A detailed experiment is described that convincingly illustrates the mode of operation of the scattering sphere as used in daily practice. The wavelength-independent term in the total loss, different for fibers drawn from the same glass, is explained as being scattering partly due to 1-mode mixing of modes with the same β by imperfections that affect high-1-modes predominantly. The total loss of the glasses to be investigated can be measured using low NA excited silicone-clad fibers and safely can be decomposed into scattering and absorption contributions.     

Measuring the sound absorption properties of noise barriers with inverse filtered maximum length sequences

Loudspeaker characteristics can have an appreciable influence on the sound absorption properties obtained with CEN/TS 1793-5 [1]. Although sound sources with omnidirectional radiation properties are favored, these often hold the problem of long impulse responses due to their design potentially incorporating ports [2]. In this paper, the inverse filtering approach is applied to two different sound sources. It is shown that it is a valuable measure to reduce the influence of the loudspeaker characteristics on the obtained sound absorption values.Furthermore, an attempt is made to measure the absorption properties according to CEN/TS 1793-5 without the need for the subtraction procedure of a free-field measurement. Thereby, as long as only high frequencies are considered, reasonable values can be obtained.     

A model comparison of the absorption coefficient of a Microperforated Insertion Unit in the frequency and time domains

The absorption coefficient of acoustic materials can be measured either in the frequency or the time domain. At normal incidence, a sample of the material is fitted within an impedance tube and the absorption coefficient is calculated in the frequency domain from the measurement of the transfer function between two microphones [ISO 10534-2. Acoustics - determination of sound absorption coefficient and impedance in impedance tubes - Part 2: transfer function method. ISO, Geneva, Switzerland; 1996]. When the acoustic material must be characterized at oblique incidence or in situ (noise barriers, for instance) the absorption coefficient is calculated from measurements of the loudspeaker-microphone impulse response in the time domain, both in free field and in front of the sample [CEN/TS 1793-5. Road traffic noise reduction devices - test method for determining the acoustic performance - Part 5: intrinsic characteristics - in situ values of sound reflection and airborne sound insulation. CEN, Brussels, Belgium; 2003, ISO 13472-1. Acoustic measurement of sound absorption properties of road surfaces in situ - Part I: extended surface method. ISO, Geneva, Switzerland; 2002]. Since the absorption is an intrinsic property of the acoustic material, its measurement in either domain must provide the same result. However, this has not been formally demonstrated yet. The aim of this paper is to carry out a comparison between the absorption coefficient predicted by the impedance model of a Microperforated Insertion Unit and the absorption coefficient predicted from a simulated reflection trace taken into account the finite length of the time window.     

Neural networks for prediction of acoustical properties of polyurethane foams

This paper presents a study of neural networks for prediction of acoustical properties of polyurethane foams. The proposed neural network model of the foam uses easily measured parameters such as frequency, airflow resistivity and density to predict multiple acoustical properties including the sound absorption coefficient and the surface impedance. Such a model is quite robust in the sense that it can be used to develop models for many different classes of materials with different sets of input and output parameters. The current neural network model of the foam is empirical and provides a useful complement to the existing analytical and numerical approaches.     

Inverse problem for particle size distributions of atmospheric aerosols using stochastic particle swarm optimization

As a part of resolving optical properties in atmosphere radiative transfer calculations, this paper focuses on obtaining aerosol optical thicknesses (AOTs) in the visible and near infrared wave band through indirect method by gleaning the values of aerosol particle size distribution parameters. Although various inverse techniques have been applied to obtain values for these parameters, we choose a stochastic particle swarm optimization (SPSO) algorithm to perform an inverse calculation. Computational performances of different inverse methods are investigated and the influence of swarm size on the inverse problem of computation particles is examined. Next, computational efficiencies of various particle size distributions and the influences of the measured errors on computational accuracy are compared. Finally, we recover particle size distributions for atmospheric aerosols over Beijing using the measured AOT data (at wavelengths λ=0.400, 0.690, 0.870, and 1.020 μm) obtained from AERONET at different times and then calculate other AOT values for this band based on the inverse results. With calculations agreeing with measured data, the SPSO algorithm shows good practicability.     

Improving low-frequency sound absorption of micro-perforated panel absorbers by using mechanical impedance plate combined with Helmholtz resonators

The traditional Micro-perforated plate (MPP) is a kind of clean and non-polluting absorption structure in the middle and high frequency and has been widely used in the field of noise control. However, the sound absorption performance is dissatisfied at low frequencies when the air-cavity depth is restricted. In this paper, a mechanical impedance plate (MIP) is introduced into the traditional MPP structure and a Helmholtz resonator is attached to the MIP. Mechanical impedance plate (MIP) provides a good absorption at low frequency by using mechanism of mechanical resonance and the acoustic energy is dissipated in the form of heat with viscoelastic material. Helmholtz resonator can fill in the defect of the poor absorption effect between the Micro-perforated plate (MPP) and the mechanical impedance plate (MIP). The acoustic impedance of the proposed sound absorber is investigated by using acoustic electric analogy method and impedance transfer method. The influence of the tube’s length of Helmholtz resonator and the number of Helmholtz resonator on the sound absorption is studied. The corresponding results are in agreement with the theoretical calculation and prove that the composite structure has the characteristics of improving the low frequency sound absorption property.     

Interband absorption and exciton binding energy in an inverse parabolic quantum well under the magnetic field

We have investigated the effects of the magnetic field which is applied perpendicular to the growth direction of the well on the interband absorption and on the binding energy of the excitons in an GaAs/Ga1−xAlxAs inverse parabolic quantum well (IPQW) with different widths as well as different Al concentrations at the well center. The calculations were performed within the effective mass approximation, using a variational method. We observe that IPQW structure turns into parabolic quantum well with the inversion effect of the magnetic field and the effective band gap of the system can be modified by changing Al concentration at the well center, the strength of the magnetic field and well dimensions. This case directly influences the nature of electronic and optical properties in this structure.     

Comparison and application of the experimental methods for multi-layer prediction of acoustical properties of noise control materials in standing wave-duct systems

A comparison among the existing experimental methods used for measuring and predicting acoustical properties, such as absorption ratio and transmission loss, of noise control materials was accomplished in this paper. Four methods for absorption ratio and five methods for transmission loss, which can be generalized as standing wave ratio method, two-cavity method and two-load method, were performed in a special standing wave-duct with two configurations of two- and four-microphone holders and compared with the theoretical expressions in the literature. Conclusions were drawn that the standing wave ratio method with two and four-microphones was more reliable, faster, and easier to use for measuring absorption ratio and transmission loss, respectively. The two-cavity and two- load methods, which may be used to predict acoustical properties of an exceedingly thick sample or a multi-layered treatment consisting of variant materials, have different conditions of using limits. The two-cavity method, especially, can be easily conducted and is suitable for the materials with properties of symmetry and reciprocity. The two-load method, however, is more cumbersome to apply, due to the fact of its complex calibration and measurement procedure. Furthermore, some prediction examples for a set of multi-layered treatments of materials were executed by a newly proposed approach, so-called experimental hybrid multi-layer prediction. In view of applications, the works done in this paper may be directly applied in standing wave-duct systems or other noise control configurations to measure, predict and/or optimize their in situ designs.     

A method to solve an acoustic inverse scattering problem involving smart obstacles

A time-harmonic acoustic inverse scattering problem involving smart obstacles is formulated and a method to solve it is proposed. A smart obstacle is an obstacle that, when hit by an incoming acoustic wave, tries to pursue a given goal circulating a suitable pressure current on its boundary. A pressure current is a quantity whose physical dimension is pressure divided by time. The goals pursued by the smart obstacles that we have considered are the following ones: to be undetectable or to appear with a shape and/or acoustic boundary impedance different from its actual ones eventually in a location in space different from the actual location. The following time-harmonic inverse scattering problem is considered: from the knowledge of several far fields generated by the smart obstacle when hit by known time-harmonic waves, the knowledge of the goal pursued by the smart obstacle and of its acoustic boundary impedance reconstruct the boundary of the obstacle. A method to solve this inverse problem that generalizes the so-called Herglotz function method is proposed. Some numerical experiments that validate the method proposed are presented. The website http://www.econ.univpm.it/recchioni/w13 contains some auxiliary material that helps the understanding of the current paper.