On the low frequency acoustic properties of novel multifunctional honeycomb sandwich panels with micro-perforated faceplates

Abstract This paper explores further possibilities of structurally-efficient honeycomb sandwich panels by replacing one of the faceplates with the perforated faceplate from the viewpoint of sound absorption coefficient (SAC) as well as sound transmission loss (STL). An analytical model is presented to calculate both the STL and SAC, with the displacements of the two faceplates assumed identical at frequencies below the faceplate resonance frequency. Influences of core configuration are investigated by comparing different honeycomb core designs. Finite element (FE) models are subsequently developed to validate the proposed analytical model, with agreement achieved. Subsequently, parametric surveys, including the influences of perforation ratio, pore size and core configuration on STL and SAC, are conducted based on the analytical model. Unlike classical honeycomb sandwich panels which are poor sound absorbers, honeycomb sandwiches with perforated faceplates lead to high SAC at low frequencies, which in turn brings about increment in the low frequency STL. Moreover, sandwich panels with triangular cores are found to have the lowest peak frequency in the STL and SAC curves compared with the other kinds of sandwich panels having the same effective mass and perforations.