Comparison of various decentralised structural and cavity feedback control strategies for transmitted noise reduction through a double panel structure

This paper compares various decentralised control strategies, including structural and acoustic actuator–sensor configuration designs, to reduce noise transmission through a double panel structure. The comparison is based on identical control stability indexes. The double panel structure consists of two panels with air in between and offers the advantages of low sound transmission at high frequencies, low heat transmission, and low weight. The double panel structure is widely used, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries. Nevertheless, the resonance of the cavity and the poor sound transmission loss at low frequencies limit the double panel's noise control performance. Applying active structural acoustic control to the panels or active noise control to the cavity has been discussed in many papers. In this paper, the resonances of the panels and the cavity are considered simultaneously to further reduce the transmitted noise through an existing double panel structure. A structural–acoustic coupled model is developed to investigate and compare various structural control and cavity control methods. Numerical analysis and real-time control results show that structural control should be applied to both panels. Three types of cavity control sources are presented and compared. The results indicate that the largest noise reduction is obtained with cavity control by loudspeakers modified to operate as incident pressure sources.     

Structural acoustic silencers--design and experiment

The effectiveness of introducing flexible structural layers into air conveying ducts for controlling noise is investigated through theoretical and experimental means, focusing at low frequencies where conventional passive silencing technology is least effective. Previous theoretical work has shown that using flexible rather than rigid walls has the potential to achieve high transmission losses. The physical mechanisms responsible for structural acoustic silencing, including the relation between transmission loss peaks and structural resonance corresponding to different transverse structural modes, are presented. Sensitivity of the performance to acoustic and structural boundary conditions is discussed. To eliminate radiated noise from these walls (breakout noise), a rigid walled cavity is introduced under the flexible plate. The challenge is to find means to reject plane waves in the two-duct system. Designs that overcome these issues and achieve appreciable transmission loss are investigated. Results based on three-dimensional finite element simulations are compared with experimental results.     

Insertion loss of an acoustic enclosure

Acoustical enclosures are the common arrangements in reducing airborne noise from shipboard machinery such as engines and generators. In this paper the theoretical models, established based on statistical energy analysis, are presented for predicting the insertion loss of acoustical enclosures in different frequency ranges. In addition to the consideration of resonant modal coupling between internal sound field and enclosure structural vibration, the nonresonant transmission though and the interaction between enclosure walls in the models are also included. It is shown that the insertion loss of enclosures is mainly controlled by the nonresonant modes in the intermediate frequency range. At high frequencies, the insertion loss of enclosures can be improved by increasing the sound absorption at the internal boundaries of enclosures. Experiments were carried out on two enclosures made of different materials. The measured results are compared with the predicted values and the good agreement between them is the initial demonstration of the validity and feasibility of the theoretical models.     

Radiation from finite cylindrical shell with irregular-shaped acoustic enclosure

In practical situations, large machinery is usually placed in an underwater vessel and changes the acoustic enclosure shape into an irregular one. The existence of machinery causes the difficulties in expressing sound transmission and radiation analytically. In this study, the sound radiation of a cylindrical shell excited by an internal acoustic source is modeled and analyzed. The cylindrical shell contains a machine modeled as a rectangular object, which is attached to a shell with a spring-mass system. The acoustic field of the cavity is computed by the integro-modal approach. The effect of object size on the coupling between acoustic mode and structural mode is investigated. The relationship between object volume and sound radiation is also studied. Numerical results show that the existence of objects inside vessels leads to a more effective coupling between the structure and acoustic enclosure than the existence of no objects in a regular-shaped cavity(i.e. empty vessel).     

A generalised approach for active control of structural–interior global noise: Practical implementation

The experimental validation of a generalised approach to the sensing of orthogonal contributors to the global error (acoustic potential energy) within a coupled structural–acoustic cavity is presented. The goal is the measurement and control of the global error without any knowledge of the structural dynamics of the noise source, based on an acoustic centric decomposition approach that is applicable to any noise source. Two sensing approaches are attempted, structural and acoustic sensing, to measure the global error within the coupled enclosure. Once estimates of the global error are obtained, minimisation with an adaptive feedforward controller is implemented. The level of achieved attenuation in the global error is compared. The achieved level of attenuation is also compared to the maximum level of attenuation of the global error that can be achieved based on the disturbance/secondary source arrangement. The maximum level of attenuation is evaluated from experimental data, rather than pure theoretical methods.     

Transmission loss of a flexible micro-perforated muffler with a flexible back cavity for water-filled pipelines

To reduce low-frequency noise of the water-filled pipeline system,a compact flexible micro-perforated muffler with a flexible back cavity(FMPMFBC) is proposed.The flexible pipe wall is made of a rubber-cord composite material.A numerical solution for the transmission loss is derived.Firstly,the flexible micro-perforated panel(FMPP) is equivalent to a flexible porous material based on Biot-Allard porous-elastic theory.Then,a periodic structural unit of the aramid fabric cloth is established with the two-scale method,and the equivalent stiffness matrix is obtained.Besides,a multi-layer composite model for the flexible pipe wall is constructed according to the lamination theory.Coupling with the internal sound field,the transmission loss of the FMPMFBC is calculated.On a water-filled impedance tube,the transmission loss curves of the FMPMFBC prototypes are measured with the two source-location method,and compared with those of a flexible micro-perforated muffler with a rigid back cavity(FMPMRBC)and an expansion muffler.Theoretical results are experimentally verified.The FMPMFBC is a hybrid muffler combining reflection with dissipation,capable of attenuating broadband lowfrequency noise.The transmission loss of prototype B2 in the frequency bands of [40 300] Hz and [40 1200] Hz is 36 dB and 30 dB,respectively,while the transmission loss of the same-sized expansion muffler in the corresponding frequency bands is 7 dB and 11 dB,respectively.     

Virtual sensors for active noise control in acoustic-structural coupled enclosures using structural sensing: part II--Optimization of structural sensor placement

The work proposed an optimization approach for structural sensor placement to improve the performance of vibro-acoustic virtual sensor for active noise control applications. The vibro-acoustic virtual sensor was designed to estimate the interior sound pressure of an acoustic-structural coupled enclosure using structural sensors. A spectral-spatial performance metric was proposed, which was used to quantify the averaged structural sensor output energy of a vibro-acoustic system excited by a spatially varying point source. It was shown that (i) the overall virtual sensing error energy was contributed additively by the modal virtual sensing error and the measurement noise energy; (ii) each of the modal virtual sensing error system was contributed by both the modal observability levels for the structural sensing and the target acoustic virtual sensing; and further (iii) the strength of each modal observability level was influenced by the modal coupling and resonance frequencies of the associated uncoupled structural/cavity modes. An optimal design of structural sensor placement was proposed to achieve sufficiently high modal observability levels for certain important panel- and cavity-controlled modes. Numerical analysis on a panel-cavity system demonstrated the importance of structural sensor placement on virtual sensing and active noise control performance, particularly for cavity-controlled modes.     

Research on the interior noise contributed from a local panel's vibration of an elastic thin-walled cavity

A theoretical algorithmic method about the interior noise contributed from a local structural panel of an elastic thin-walled cavity is put forward based on the reciprocity of the acoustic system and the finite-element analysis. An example for a passenger compartment is given in order to validate the correctness of the method, and the source of error is also discussed briefly.     

矩形封闭声腔壁板轻量化对声固耦合特性的影响

基于模态耦合法建立了考虑对侧柔性壁板的矩形封闭腔体声固耦合模型,导出了耦合系统声振响应随柔性板材料属性及厚度变化的近似关系.通过数值仿真计算,详细分析了单柔性板-单侧激励、双柔性板-双侧激励及双柔性板-单侧激励三种情况下板的轻量化设计对系统声固耦合特性及腔内声压响应的影响.结果表明:对于单柔性板-单侧激励及双柔性板-双侧激励情况,低频段腔内声压主要取决于板厚,其次是杨氏模量,而与板密度关系较弱.因此使用适当增厚的轻质板可以同时达到减重和低频区降噪的目标.对于双柔性板-单侧激励情况,适当的轻量化设计可以显著增强两板间低频段振动的耦合,从而降低该频段的声腔模态响应及腔内噪音.在中高频段,增加板厚和材料密度对降低三种情况的腔内声压均有利。      

Noise control in enclosures: modeling and experiments with T-shaped acoustic resonators

This paper presents a theoretical and experimental study of noise control in enclosures using a T-shaped acoustic resonator array. A general model with multiple resonators is developed to predict the acoustic performance of small resonators placed in an acoustic enclosure. Analytical solutions for the sound pressure inside the enclosure and the volume velocity source strength out of the resonator aperture are derived when a single resonator is installed, which provides insight into the physics of acoustic interaction between the enclosure and the resonator. Based on the understanding of the coupling between the individual resonators and enclosure modes, both targeted and nontargeted, a sequential design methodology is proposed for noise control in the enclosure using an array of acoustic resonators. Design examples are given to illustrate the control performance at a specific or at several resonance peaks within a frequency band of interest. Experiments are conducted to systematically validate the theory and the design method. The agreement between the theoretical and experimental results shows that, with the help of the presented theory and design methodology, either single or multiple resonance peaks of the enclosure can be successfully controlled using an optimally located acoustic resonator array.     

开孔对封闭空间共振特性的影响

研究了开孔对封闭空间声场的影响。通过将孔内振动空气等效为点源,用模态展开法建立了开孔封闭空间的声场模型,计算了开孔封闭空间高阶共振频率和在共振频率激励下的声压分布。结果显示:开孔等效于孔处声质量减小,一般使得开孔封闭空间的共振频率增加;但当孔位于某模态节点时,由于该阶模态与任一模态在开孔处未发生耦合,该模态共振频率不变;由于在开孔区域对应于激励频率的模态声压和其余各阶模态声压之和的相位相反,高阶共振频率激励下靠近小孔位置的声压减小。因此,开孔对封闭空间声场有影响,其影响程度与开孔位置和开孔尺寸有关。      

Full scale model investigation on the acoustical protection of a balcony-like façade device (L)

The acoustical insertion losses produced by a balcony-like structure in front of a window are examined experimentally. The results suggest that the balcony ceiling is the most appropriate location for the installation of artificial sound absorption for the purpose of improving the broadband insertion loss, while the side walls are found to be the second best. Results also indicate that the acoustic modes of the balcony opening and the balcony cavity resonance in a direction normal to the window could have a great impact on the one-third octave band insertion losses. The maximum broadband road traffic noise insertion loss achieved is about 7 dB.     

Noise screening effects of balconies on a building facade

The insertion loss and its spectrum due to a rectangular balcony on a building facade in the presence of sound reflection and scattering from adjacent balconies were examined using a scale model. The front panel of the balcony dictates the screening performance, while the side walls of the balcony are found to be insignificant. Balconies without a front panel do not provide acoustic protection in the presence of upper balcony reflection, especially for a distant noise source. Sound amplifications are also observed in many cases. In addition, the shapes of the insertion loss spectra are found to depend on the elevation angle of the balcony. Significant correlations between the A-weighted balcony insertion losses with this angle are found in the absence of upper balcony reflections. With such reflection, an angle defined using the balcony configuration and source position correlates within engineering tolerance to the insertion losses.     

A theoretical study on the effect of a permeable membrane in the air cavity of a double-leaf microperforated panel space sound absorber

A double-leaf microperforated panel absorber (DLMPP) is composed of a two microperforated panel (MPP) with a air cavity in-between, and without any backing structure. It shows a Helmholtz-type resonance peak absorption and additional low frequency absorption, therefore it can be used as a wideband space sound absorber. In this study, a theoretical study is made to examine the effect of a permeable membrane inside the air-cavity. Permeable membranes are studied in our previous studies and proved to be effective to improve the sound absorption performance of various type MPP sound absorbers. We investigate the absorption characteristics of a DLMPP with a permeable membrane in the cavity through numerical examples, and also studied the effect of honeycomb in the cavity of the same sound absorption structure.     

Drum silencer with shallow cavity filled with helium

The motivation of this study is twofold: (a) to produce a flow-through silencer with zero pressure loss for pressure-critical applications, and (b) to tackle low frequency noise with limited sideway space using cavities filled with helium. The work represents a further development of our recently conceived device of a drum-like silencer with conventional air cavity [Huang, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 2014-2025 (2002); Choy and Huang, ibid. 112, 2026-2035 (2002)]. Theoretical predictions are validated by experimental data. The new silencer consists of two highly tensioned membranes lining part of a duct, and each membrane is backed by a cavity filled with helium. For a typical configuration of a duct with height h, membrane length L = 7h, cavity depth h = 0.2h, and tension T = 0.52rho0c0(2)h2, where rho0 and c0 are the ambient density and speed of sound in air, respectively, the transmission loss has a continuous stop band of TL > 6.35 dB for frequency 0.03c0/h to 0.064c0/h, which is much better than traditional duct lining. In addition to the mechanisms at work for drum silencers with air cavity, the low density of helium reduces the masslike reactance of the cavity on the second in vacuo mode of membrane vibration. The reduction greatly enhances the membrane response at this mode, which is found to be critical for achieving a broadband performance in the low-frequency regime.     

回旋速调管加载损耗介质群聚腔的研究

 用模式场匹配理论建立了散射矩阵,数值模拟并分析了加载损耗介质层对群聚腔Q值、谐振特性以及群聚腔两端漂移段半径的大小对谐振特性的影响。研究表明：加载损耗介质在高频率下使群聚腔主要寄生模式EH₂₁₂和EH₃₁₁得到极大的抑制,对工作模式H₀₁模更有利;衰减常数随损耗层厚度的增加而迅速增加,Q值随介质厚度的增加迅速减小,因此在设计腔体时必须严格控制损耗材料厚度。最后为正在研制的回旋速调管设计了满足要求的低Q群聚腔,该腔冷测实验结果与计算结果基本一致。     

基于声辐射模态的有源结构声传入及其辐射控制

从辐射模态的概念和角度研究利用结构误差传感方法对弹性封闭空间结构声辐射进行传感和有源控制。首先分析了辐射模态的数学和物理意义并揭示了辐射模态与声腔模态之间的内在耦合关系。通过声辐射模态建立了弹性封闭空间结构声辐射传感和有源控制模型,并提出了通过传感器阵列测量结构表面有限点的振速分布和设计特定的辐射模态空间滤波器来获得控制所需的误差信号。在此基础上对封闭空间结构声辐射有源控制和误差传感策略进行了深入的理论和数值仿真分析,重点讨论了传感器的数量和布放对辐射模态传感及其有源控制效果的影响。结果表明:辐射模态与声腔模态的耦合具有严格的选择性,各阶辐射模态的形状和与相耦合的主导声模态在耦合面上的形状非常相似;利用结构传感技术传感封闭空间的辐射模态时测点不足或空间采样不足将可能产生较严重的模态泄漏问题,使得不希望的结构模态泄露进所测的辐射模态当中来。在低频范围内,一般只需传感并最小化前三阶有效辐射模态声势能,在更低频和空间声模态频率附近,只需最小化前一阶最有效辐射模态声势能,便能和总声势能最小化策略控制效果基本一样。      

双层板腔结构声传输及其有源控制研究

利用子系统模态综合方法,结合阻抗-导纳矩阵法,建立了双层板腔结构向自由空间声传输及其在入射板PZT控制、辐射板PZT控制,和腔中次级声源作动等多种控制策略下,系统物理模型的统一的分析模型,导出了系统模态响应及最优次级源强度的统一的阻抗-导纳矩阵表达式。该模型表达式各部分物理意义清晰、明确,便于进行系统耦合理论、有源控制及其机理的分析和数值研究。然后,在此基础上对双层板腔结构声传输有源控制进行了全面深入的数值计算和分析研究,重点探讨了控制方法策略及系统参数对有源控制效果的影响及其对应的控制机理。结果表明:入射板PZT作动辐射声功率最小控制策略是通过入射板、声腔和辐射板三个子系统的模态抑制或重组达到消声的目的,涉及多种复杂控制机理,对入射板、辐射板和声腔模态均有效,但对入射板模态更有效;在低频段声腔(0,0,0)模态在系统耦合响应中起主导作用,因此利用腔中次级声源作动能获得较理想的控制效果,是一种较好的控制策略;由于声腔模态与结构模态间复杂的耦合关系,使得某些频率处腔中声势能一定程度上的降低并不一定导致系统声传输损失的增加,因此,腔中声势能最小控制策略不一定能够获得理想的声传输控制效果。      

Analytical research on structural-acoustic coupling of a cavity surrounded by flexible panel

The structural-acoustic coupling characteristics, mechanisms, effect of structural-acoustic coupling on natural mode and natural frequencies of the system are analyzed theoretically and numerically. Formulae for the natural frequencies of the coupled system are derived. Some new conclusions are obtained. Analytical results demonstrate that the strongly coupled system indicates obvious closed-loop feedback characteristics, whereas the weakly coupled system indicates obvious feedforward characteristics, and it is because of the presence of the feedback loop that the natural characteristics and natural frequencies are changed. Cluster coupling characteristic between the structural and acoustic modes for the regular cavity and panel system is found, which determines the coupling interaction between the flexible panel and cavity. Any mode in one mode cluster only interferes the modes and the modal natural frequencies in the same cluster independently. The modal cluster coupling changes not only the natural frequencies of the system but also the modal order and structural mode shape.