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Microperforated Panel (MPP) Absorbers for Impulsive and Narrow-Band Noise Control: Design, Simulation, and Experimental Validation
Ray, Subhrodeep
Ray, Subhrodeep
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2025-08
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Mechanical Engineering
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https://doi.org/10.34944/0g7t-fy72
Abstract
Environmental noise pollution, particularly in urban and suburban areas, poses a growing threat to public health and quality of life. Among the most challenging forms of such pollution are impulsive and narrow-band noises, which are often tonal, repetitive, and difficult to suppress using conventional mitigation strategies. The rapid rise of pickleball as a recreational sport has sparked widespread noise complaints, primarily due to the sport's distinct and repetitive mid-frequency “pop” sound. Conventional mitigation strategies, including porous absorbers, rigid barriers, and quiet paddles, have proven insufficient for addressing this specific acoustic challenge, especially in outdoor environments with oblique sound incidence. This dissertation explores the development of microperforated panel (MPP) absorbers as a scalable, fiberless, and visually transparent solution to mitigate impulsive narrowband noise that is similar to the pickleball sound.
Building upon Maa’s classical theory, the research first presents the analytical modeling of single-layer MPPs, followed by numerical simulations and impedance tube validation. Key design parameters such as hole diameter, perforation ratio, and cavity depth are systematically evaluated to optimize absorption near 1 kHz—the dominant frequency of pickleball noise. A novel parallel MPP configuration is then introduced, combining multiple perforation ratios in a modular format to enhance angular robustness and broadband absorption.
Large-scale testing in a 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft acrylic cube chamber under quasi-reverberant conditions validates the practical performance of the MPP system. Both interior and exterior analyses—spanning time- and frequency-domain evaluations—confirm substantial attenuation of transmitted acoustic energy, with perceptible sound pressure level reductions exceeding 8 dB in critical frequency bands. These results demonstrate the feasibility of deploying transparent MPP absorbers as an effective and community-friendly solution for outdoor recreational noise mitigation.
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