Topology optimization with a genetic algorithm for the structural design of composite porous acoustic materials

Abstract

The low-frequency sound-absorption performance of porous acoustic materials is poor, while the combination of porous materials and scatterer-based structures can improve the low-frequency absorption coefficient of porous materials. This paper investigates the use of a topology optimization with a genetic algorithm (TOGA) to automatically design the optimal structure for better broadband low-frequency sound-absorption performance. This study is designed to optimize the distribution of scatterers inside a 5-cm-thick melamine sponge, and the optimization results in an average absorption coefficient of 0.8 in the frequency range of 200–1600 Hz. The effects of different structures, different locations, different material parameters, different acoustic incident angles and simplified structures on the sound-absorption coefficients are investigated. The simulation calculation results and experimental results verify the correctness of the results. This composite acoustic material and the method provide more design ideas for the design of future acoustic materials.