Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The proposed research program is aimed at developing, quantifying and optimizing, through modeling, prototyping and testing, the acoustic performance of structured noise control materials (also known as Acoustic Meta-Materials : AMM) attached to modern lightweight structures. The targeted AMM combines the natural properties of the used structure (e.g. stiffness, backing cavity), host material (e.g. passive absorption of open cell foams) with shaped and/or resonant inclusions suitably located to ensure maximum structural, vibration and acoustic performance over the entire audible frequency range and at low frequency in particular. This represents the major and current challenge in sound insulation since in this frequency range conventional treatments are practically inefficient. Using state of the art numerical and experimental tools, the methodology includes (i) developing, implementing and validating computationally efficient full frequency spectrum vibro-acoustics models for modern lightweight structures with embedded or attached AMM under various excitations; (ii) Investigating and developing various AMM concepts; specifically, study host materials (porous elastic foams, polymers, Honeycombs.) with judiciously placed and structured inclusions (Helmholtz resonators, membranes, shaped voids, .) that target higher absorption and/or isolation performance at low frequencies; (iii) investigating methods and materials to realize the proposed design (3D printing, thermoforming) and on this basis fabricate small-scale prototypes to elucidate the main physical phenomena, verify the prediction of the developed modeling tools and quantify the variability and robustness of the developed prototypes; (iv) assess the technological readiness level of the best performing concepts using representative industrial structures and standardized vibro-acoustics tests. The outcome of this research is both fundamental knowledge (refined analytical and numerical models elucidating the used physics and guiding the design) and technology (characterization and design tools, fully functional high TRL prototypes). These developments are generic and applicable to noise and vibration control problems in the transport, aerospace and construction sectors. Moreover, several highly qualified people will be trained through this program; they will be able to support these industries and Canadian research institutions.