Inverse design of acoustic metamaterials based on machine learning using a Gauss–Bayesian model

This comprehensive review explores the design and applications of machine learning (ML) techniques to acoustic metamaterials (AMs) and phononic crystals (PnCs), with a particular focus on deep learning (DL). AMs and PnCs, characterized by artificially designed microstructures and geometries, offer unique acoustic properties for precise control and manipulation of sound waves. ML, including DL, in combination with traditional artificial design have promoted the design process, enabling data-driven approaches for feature identification, design optimization, and intelligent parameter search. ML algorithms process extensive AM data to discover novel structures and properties, enhancing overall acoustic performance. This review presents an in-depth exploration of applications associated with ML techniques in AMs and PnCs, highlighting specific advantages, challenges and potential solutions of applying of using ML algorithms associated with ML techniques. By bridging acoustic engineering and ML, this review paves the way for future breakthroughs in acoustic research and engineering.

Ultra-open ventilated metamaterial absorbers for sound-silencing applications in environment with free air flows

<sec>Low-frequency noise has always been a thorny problem in the field of noise control. In recent years, the development of sound-absorbing metastructures has provided new ideas for controlling low-frequency noise. In this work, we propose a low-frequency sound-absorbing metastructure constructed by Helmholtz resonators with embedded slit. Analytical and numerical models are established to analyze the sound absorption performance and mechanism of the proposed sound-absorbing metastructure, and optimization design is conducted to achieve low-frequency wideband absorption performance. The analytical modeling method and the performance of the proposed sound-absorbing metastructure are also experimentally verified. The main conclusions are summarized as follows.</sec><sec>1) By using transfer matrix method and finite element method, analytical and numerical models for calculating sound absorption coefficient are established. It is shown that analytical predictions are in good agreement with numerical calculations. It is demonstrated that a typical design of a 30-mm-thick single-cell metastructure can achieve a sound absorption coefficient of 0.88 at 404 Hz. Typical designs of two-cell parallel structure and the four-cell parallel structure (both with a thickness of 50 mm) can achieve two and four nearly perfect low-frequency sound absorption peaks in a frequency band of 200–400 Hz, respectively.</sec><sec>2) The low-frequency sound absorption mechanisms of the proposed metastructures are explained from four aspects: simplified equivalent model parameters, normalized acoustic impedance, complex-plane zero/pole distribution, and sound pressure cloud image and particle velocity field distribution. It is demonstrated that the main sound absorption mechanism is related to the thermal viscous loss of sound waves, caused by the inner wall of embedded slit.</sec><sec>3) The design for broadband low-frequency absorption performance is optimized by using differential evolution optimization algorithm. An optimized parallel-multi-cell coupled metastructure with multiple perfect sound absorption peaks below 500 Hz is realized. For a thickness of 90 mm, the sound absorption coefficient curve of an optimized metastructure exhibits 8 almost perfect sound absorption peaks and an average sound absorption coefficient of 0.86 in a frequency range of 170－380 Hz.</sec><sec>4) Experimental samples are fabricated to test sound absorption. Experimental results are basically consistent with the analytical predictions. The results from analytical model, numerical calculations and experimental measurements are mutually verified.</sec><sec>In summary, the sound-absorbing metastructures with a thickness of sub-wavelength, proposed in this work, exhibit outstanding sound absorption performance at low frequencies. We demonstrate that they are suitable for low frequency broadband sound absorption below 500 Hz. Owing to their thin thickness and relatively simple construction, they have broad application prospects in practical noise control engineering.</sec>

Development and progress in acoustic phase-gradient metamaterials for wavefront modulation

This thesis deals with electromagnetic inspired acoustic metamaterials, enabling sound-matter interactions in different wave scenarios that include propagation, guided-waves, radiation, refraction, reflection and transmission. To this end, a particular emphasis is placed on introducing novel applications for acoustic metamaterials operating on each one of the aforementioned wave scenarios. A few years ago, metamaterials have been introduced as a new class of composite artificial materials, engineered to produce unusual effective material properties not readily available in nature. Electromagnetic metamaterials are probably the oldest class of metamaterials, being nowadays in the process of reaching maturity and being proposed for interesting commercial applications. On the other hand, as in most young but not yet mature emerging fields of science, acoustic metamaterials are still providing lots of fertile and unexplored ground for research and study. Despite many inherent physical differences, the propagation of electromagnetic and acoustic waves are both governed by a similar mathematical model, the so-called Helmholtz wave equation. The main purpose of this work is to leverage this amazing similarity by translating recent advances in electromagnetic metamaterials into their corresponding, previously unseen, applications in acoustics. The first contribution of this thesis is to adapt the classic electromagnetic transmission-line theory to allow the design of acoustic metamaterials. The proposed circuit-based theory finds a direct application in the design of composite right/left hand transmission-line metamaterials, which yield novel guided-wave applications for acoustic metamaterials. Then, the developed theory is leveraged to model and achieve optimal design of different acoustic metamaterial-based devices, such as leaky-wave antennas and reflector-type metasurfaces. The second part of the thesis spins around acoustic leaky-wave antennas and their different functionalities, showing that they are able to act as acoustic dispersive prisms in the refraction mode and as acoustic single sensor direction finder in the radiation mode. Studying reflection phenomena in sound-metasurface interactions constitutes the next part of this thesis, where a membrane-capped cavity is introduced performing as an ultra-thin unit-cell for reflective acoustic metasurfaces. This leads to exciting applications of the concept, like acoustic reflectarray antennas and acoustic metasurface skin-cloaks Finally, the last part of this thesis deals with transmission phenomena in acoustic metasurfaces and, especially, in orbital angular momentum metasurfaces. This concept results in the design of an innovative labyrinthine-type helicoidal unit-cell that is used for phase coding a surface and transforming impinging acoustic wavefronts into transmitted helical wavefronts.

Near-perfect sound absorptions in low-frequencies by varying compositions of porous labyrinthine acoustic metamaterial

Metamaterials show perfect physics characteristics for controlling elastic wave propagation. Their potential offers a lot of useful applications in low-frequency sound absorption and vibration reduction systems. However, traditional materials have inherent deficiencies in terms of functionality. There are a few designs in both acoustic and solid-mechanics domains that simultaneously exhibit sound attenuation bands and vibration bandgaps. The question poses new challenges for metamaterial development. To address this, we propose a gradient-symmetric multilayered metamaterial. The structure is capable of concurrent sound and vibration absorption. First, we established an acoustic model based on Helmholtz resonators and a vibration model by spring-mass systems. This model can predict the sound attenuation frequencies and natural frequency positions accurately. Second, through a combined simulation and experimental approach, we investigated how variations in the number of structural layers affect sound attenuation bandwidth. In addition, we analyzed the mechanisms of sound pressure distribution inside and outside the bandgaps. Finally, we elucidated the influence of lattice constants on vibration bandgap positions, demonstrating possibilities for passive control of metamaterials. This research provides robust support for the dynamic design of acoustic and mechanical metamaterials, structural modeling methodologies, bandwidth regulation strategies, and the development of sound-absorbing and vibration-damping devices.

Passive noise control (PNC) mainly focuses on the noise source and propagation path to control the noise. Generally, using an acoustic package and sound and vibration isolation structures could prevent noise from propagating into the vehicle. PNC technology has been developed extensively and formed a relatively mature theoretical system. It has become an important branch in interior noise control due to its simple implementation structure and good system stability. This chapter addresses three major areas of PNC technology: (1) sound insulation materials, (2) sound absorption materials, and (3) acoustic metamaterials. First, the basis of fundamental theory and law of these series materials have been conducted to optimize the structure design. This chapter mainly focuses on the recent research progress for multilayer sound-absorbing structures, which have excellent sound absorption properties at medium and low frequencies. Meanwhile, acoustic metamaterials have been introduced to overcome the shortcoming of traditional sound absorption technology that it cannot play a significant role in the low-frequency noise below 400 Hz. So, a new optimal method for PNC technology in low-frequency noise is emerging.

A hybrid acoustic metamaterial is proposed as a new class of sound absorber, which exhibits superior broadband low-frequency sound absorption as well as excellent mechanical stiffness/strength. Based on the honeycomb-corrugation hybrid core (H-C hybrid core), we introduce perforations on both top facesheet and corrugation, forming perforated honeycomb-corrugation hybrid (PHCH) to gain super broadband low-frequency sound absorption. Applying the theory of micro-perforated panel (MPP), we establish a theoretical method to calculate the sound absorption coefficient of this new kind of metamaterial. Perfect sound absorption is found at just a few hundreds hertz with two-octave 0.5 absorption bandwidth. To verify this model, a finite element model is developed to calculate the absorption coefficient and analyze the viscous-thermal energy dissipation. It is found that viscous energy dissipation at perforation regions dominates the total energy consumed. This new kind of acoustic metamaterials show promising engineering applications, which can serve as multiple functional materials with extraordinary low-frequency sound absorption, excellent stiffness/strength and impact energy absorption.

The review focuses on architected acoustic metamaterials to manipulate airborne sound waves, with only limited discussions on elastic metamaterials related to solid media. We review the design of acoustic metamaterials and the physical mechanisms underpinning their performance and related manufacturing methodologies, while also examining potential issues and challenges affecting the use of metamaterials in acoustics. The complexities of several metamaterial architectures are discussed. A new classification system is proposed to distinguish metamaterial configurations based on the typology of the channels inside the acoustic meta-atom. Several types of acoustic metamaterials architectures, such as perforated and micro-perforated panels, acoustic foams, resonators, various geometrical paths, and piezoelectric patches, are also discussed. The fundamental acoustic mechanisms of these classes of metamaterials are identified and commented on. The paper also describes the main measurement techniques used for acoustic metamaterials and the physical quantities evaluated, providing a guide to characterize and assess their performance. The fundamental challenges of the current metamaterials designs are discussed, with a focus on the complex synergy between architectural patterns of acoustic metamaterials and their thickness. We clarify the distinction between acoustic and elastic metamaterials, emphasizing the design and applications of materials that manipulate sound waves in fluid media. The paper also offers further comments about the need for practical design tools to allow the use of acoustic metamaterials in real-world applications.

Although crucial transport equipment in coal mining enterprises, tubular belt conveyors cause serious noise pollution. In this paper, the sound absorption and isolation performance of three kinds of highly efficient sound-absorbing and -insulating materials were studied by finite element multiphysics field software COMSOL and acoustic tests, and the structure of highly efficient sound-absorbing and -insulating materials was optimized and designed. The results show that the acoustic superstructure plate has an excellent sound insulation effect of 36 dB, and achieves an excellent sound absorption coefficient of 0.95 at 210 Hz on the acoustic simulation test. The simulated weighted sound insulation of acoustic metamaterial plate is 37 dB, and the simulated weighted sound insulation of acoustic metamaterial plate filled with particle material is 42 dB, which improves the sound insulation effect by 4~7 dB after filling with particle material, and the comprehensive absorption coefficient of the high-frequency noise of more than 800 Hz reaches 0.94, and it can effectively absorb and block the low-frequency noise as well; rock wool acoustic panels in the 500 Hz to achieve a better acoustic capacity, the absorption coefficient of 0.8 or more, but the low-frequency noise acoustic capacity is still lacking, and can not be a good solution to the full-frequency band of the acoustic problem. It can be seen that the acoustic metamaterial plate has the best sound absorption and insulation effect. At the same time, the acoustic metamaterials based on the honeycomb structure are optimized, and the sound absorption and insulation structure with the angle of 60° of the inclined plate and the length of 693 mm of the inclined plate is the optimal structure. It provides a solution to the noise pollution caused by tubular belt conveyors.

2D underwater acoustic metamaterials incorporating a combination of particle-filled polyurethane and spiral-based local resonance mechanisms

Air bubbles in liquid are known for exhibiting low-frequency resonance and can be considered as passive scatterers. In this paper, we design an acoustic metamaterial consisting of an air bubble in a water-filled metal shell with an opening to develop low frequency underwater sound absorber. Numerical simulation is carried out by using finite element method, and the results show that the metamaterial sound absorber achieves quasi-prefect sound absorption coefficient (up to 0.96) at the frequency of 900 Hz based on the coupling resonance between the elastic bubble and the metal shell matrix. By replacing the single unit with a 3-unit composite structure, the acoustic metamaterial absorber can extend the working frequency from 830 Hz to1330 Hz, with still high absorption coefficient above 0.8. Our design acoustic metamaterial has potential applications in underwater noise control.

To address the increasingly complex demands of noise control, this study investigated the integration of a micro-perforated nanofiber membrane (MPNM) with nonwoven fiber felt (NFF), exploiting their synergistic effects to achieve efficient low-frequency broadband sound absorption. Through theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental validation, the relationship between the sound absorption performance of the composite structure and factors such as the lamination sequence, bonding area, perforation parameters, thickness of the MPNM, and thickness of the NFF were elucidated. These findings provided new insights for the design of high-performance, tunable, sound-absorbing materials. The results demonstrated that the MPNM-NFF effectively combined two distinct sound absorption mechanisms, thereby expanding the effective absorption bandwidth, with particularly enhanced low-frequency sound absorption. Moreover, through algorithmic optimization of the structural parameters, targeted absorption of noise across different frequency bands was achieved, with the optimal average sound absorption coefficients reaching 0.70 in the low-frequency range, 0.91 in the mid-frequency range, and 0.82 in the full-frequency range. This research offered both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the development of composite materials with high efficiency and broadband sound absorption characteristics, paving the way for innovative applications in noise control materials.

Structures with light weight and broadband sound absorption is of vital importance for noise control applications in engineering practice. Foams exhibit broadband but poor low frequency sound absorption, micro-perforated sandwich structures conversely possess good sound absorption at low frequencies due to resonance, the bandwidth is however limited. Micro-perforated sandwich structures with foam filling are therefore proposed in the paper to obtain wideband low-frequency sound absorption. An integrated analytical, numerical and experimental research is conducted to investigate sound absorption and lightweight characteristics of four commonly used micro-perforated sandwich structures with honeycomb (PHSP), corrugated (PCSP), N hybrid (PNHSP) and honeycomb-corrugated (PHCSP) cores. An analytical model is built to estimate sound absorption coefficient (SAC) based on the acoustic impedance theory and Johnson-Champoux-Allard model. Numerical simulation and experimental measurement methods are conducted simultaneously to validate the analytical model. The influences and underling mechanism of foam filling and filling configurations are explored, and it is found that melamine foam filling can enhance low-frequency sound absorption bandwidth of micro-perforated sandwich structures, and half-filled foam can bring in higher absorption peak values than fully filled foam due to more violent resonance. To overall evaluate both the lightweight and sound absorption performance of varied sandwich cores, a comprehensive evaluation index by the sound absorption and relative mass is developed. Results show that the PCSPs with lower half part filled foam perform best at both sound absorption and lightweight among all sandwich structures. Results of this paper can provide guidance for the application of sandwich structures.