Designing, constructing and testing of a new generation of sound barriers

• Published in: Journal of environmental health science and engineering Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 507 - 527
• Main Authors: Negahdari, Hadi, Javadpour, Sirus, Moattar, Faramarz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-12-2019; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Acoustic absorption; Acoustic insulation; Acoustic noise; Acoustics; Computer programs; Computer simulation; Control systems; Crystal structure; Decision making; Design of experiments; Design optimization; Earth and Environmental Science; Electric power generation; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Health; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Flowers; Fractals; Frequency analysis; Insulation; Measurement methods; Metamaterials; Noise control; Noise levels; Noise pollution; Noise reduction; Performance enhancement; Power plants; Quality of Life Research; Research Article; Resonance; Response surface methodology; Software; Software engineering; Sound transmission; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Noise barriers; Sound insulation index; Noise pollution; Environmental pollution; Noise control; Sonic crystals
• ISSN: 2052-336X; 2052-336X
• DOI: 10.1007/s40201-019-00357-y

Purpose
Nowadays, noise pollution is considered a major environmental problem which has affected the health and comfort of millions of people around the world. Solving the mentioned problems need to design a new generation of acoustic barriers. Acoustics experts believe that stopping and absorbing the low-frequency sound is difficult. The aims of this study were to remove the harmful frequency in industries and cities. This study concentrates on the reduction of the noise level and increasing the mass law and resonance at low frequencies.
Methods
Sound measurement and frequency analysis did to fix the harmful frequency in the Shiraz city and in the Shiraz Gas Power Plant. COMSOL 5.3a software used for simulation. Suitable material chose for the manufacture of the sound barrier through the Cambridge engineering selection software 2013. The meta-material sound barrier made and tested in the acoustic room and in the free space. Results analyzed and optimized by Design of Experiment (DOE) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) software. Mini Tab. 18.1 software used for Statistical Calculations. New sound barriers manufactured with adding new strategies to previous studies to improve the performance of meta-materials like beautification inspired from the flowers of nature and increasing of resonance in internal pipes.
Results
Three mechanisms used in this scatterer model which included, resonance phenomenon, Band Gap (BG) without absorption mechanism and inner-fractal-like structure. Our technique showed an advantage to reduce at frequencies below 100 Hz without adsorbent usage. The results showed that reduced noise exposures about 17.8 dB at frequency 50 Hz, about 9.1 dB within the range of 250 Hz according to EN 1793–2 standard (Lab Test for Airborne Sound Insulation). The sound barrier reported in this work provides the best and updated solution in the field of noise control.
Conclusions
A novel generation of sound barriers introduced. We called this structure Interior Quasi-Fractal Sonic Crystal Acoustic Barrier (IQFSCAB). In this study, several different gaps used to remove various frequencies. It could be concluded that the outcomes of the meta-material models based on the Sonic Crystal (SC) could be used for the purpose of noise control system and could be helpful for decision-makers on the noise control legislations.
Graphical abstract
Interaction of waves with noise barriers and wave propagation inside periodic media is a hot topic in many branches of science and technology. The acoustic metamaterial can create green environments by reducing the low frequencies of industrial noise or traffic jam. New barrier have added a number of new strategies to previous studies in order to improve the performance of meta-materials. Our technique shows a clear advantage over to absorb at frequencies below 100 Hz without adsorbent usage. Innovative use of several different gaps and diameters for to remove various frequencies was done in this study. We called this structure IQFSACB due to fractal like interior pipes as those seen in some of the flowers in nature.