Implications of solid freeform fabrication on acoustic absorbers

Abstract

PurposeLimitations in traditional manufacturing methods currently employed in the production of acoustic devices, restricts the development of design led performance improvements. These devices are used to control sound energy and are commonly employed for tailoring room acoustics. solid freeform fabrication allows the production of acoustic structures more complex than traditionally manufactured devices. This paper aims to focus on a novel absorber based on destructive interference, considering performance, design and manufacture.Design/methodology/approachSelective laser sintering has been used in the investigation of the performance and manufacturing possibilities and limitations of a novel destructive interference absorber. Validation of the absorber performance is benchmarked against a conventional resonant absorber and compared to published results. The implications for acoustic devise design, the advances and limitations in manufacture using solid freeform fabrication techniques and potential applications are discussed.FindingsAn original absorber design has been shown to exhibit comparable acoustic absorption to that of a traditional solution. The nature of the geometry of the novel absorber demonstrates that the design flexibility afforded by solid freeform fabrication processes holds potential for applications incorporating new types of acoustic absorber. The use of solid freeform fabrication has demonstrated its potential to the application of acoustics, and has highlighted limitations due to post‐processing, material strength and the precision of the selectivity process.Practical implicationsSolid freeform fabrication techniques enable a new family of specifically engineered acoustic absorbers capable of incorporating performance benefits over conventional absorbers.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on room acoustic applications, the creation of high performance, conformal absorbers, applicable to a wide range of applications within the aerospace, automotive and construction industries, where space, weight and performance are key criteria.