SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS PERFORMANCE OF BIO-COMPOSITE MICRO-PERFORATED PANELS BACKED BY NATURAL FIBERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/aej.v15.24464Keywords:
Micro-perforated panel (MPP), Natural fiber, Sound transmission loss (STL), Acoustic properties, Impedance tubeAbstract
Micro-perforated panels (MPPs) with natural fiber backing hold great potential for the development of acoustic panels due to their various advantages over conventional porous materials. Some aesthetic restrictions and the bulky nature posed by conventional porous materials have made natural fiber-reinforced MPP a more adaptable and compelling solution for acoustic efficacy. Therefore, in this paper, MPPs backed by coconut coir, kenaf fiber, and palm leaf fiber are the focused for assessing the sound transmission loss (STL) performance. The selection of these natural fibers is largely due to their favorable inherent natural characteristics and acoustic properties. To assess STL, the current study employed the impedance tube approach to analyze the performance of materials in attenuating sound pressure across varying frequencies. Results reveal that the MPP reinforced with coconut coir achieved the maximum STL at 42 dB in the mid-frequency range of 190 to 230 Hz, demonstrating that it may be a highly suitable material for applications that require soundproofing. Undoubtedly, natural fiber-backed panels offer a viable alternative and an effective solutions to mitigate different forms of sound transmission, including airborne and structure-borne noise, thereby enhancing overall acoustic insulation.
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