Exploring sound absorption properties of porous wood-based eco-friendly materials for noise reduction in buildings

Abstract

In the last few years, there has been an increase in the use of eco-friendly materials in the area of acoustics made from natural fibers. These materials are preferable to synthetic materials because of their benefits, such as raw material availability, cost-effective processing costs, safe handling, and equivalent acoustic qualities. The main objective of this study is to find out how well the material made from vetiver grass absorbs sound. Following the International Standard ISO 354-2003 and ASTM 423-90, sound absorption tests were done in a reverberation chamber to find the Sound Absorption Coefficient (SAC) and Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) over a wide range of frequencies from 100–4000 Hz. To enhance the way the material absorbs noise, several ASTM E795-16 mountings were examined and tested. These mountings, which have air cavity sizes ranging from 0 mm (hard base) to 50, 100, and 300 mm, include J, E600, C50, D10, and C10. The most effective technique to enhance the material's acoustic qualities to lower noise was identified by comparing the SAC and NRC readings of samples with various-sized air gaps. The fitting of C10 with a SynthPF 10 × 50 back and a 50 mm air gap produced the best results (NRC 0.82). The produced porous pine boards with a density of 400 kg/m3 and a width of 20 mm met all the physical and mechanical property standards of the Indian Standards. The study shows that noise-absorbing materials made from vetiver grass could be used in buildings in ways that are better for the environment.