A finite-element analysis of a smart foam system for passive/active noise control

Abstract

The smart foam noise control system is designed to reduce sound by a combination of the passive absorbing component of the poroelastic foam and the active component of the voltage-driven PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film. The hybrid noise control methodology allows the control of noise over a wide frequency bandwidth. In this paper, the finite-element (FE) method is used to solve the PVDF-foam-structure-acoustic coupled smart foam system in a two-dimensional domain. An FE model of a two-dimensional smart foam actuator with embedded PVDF film will be presented. The effect of foam properties on acoustic impedance and absorption coefficient of the smart foam system is examined using the FE model. The program also predicts the structural vibration of the foam matrix and the acoustic pressure in a cavity when an array of smart foam actuators are driven by control input voltages which are determined by the active control algorithm.