Contribution
Design and Prototyping of a Large Metacage for Noise Mitigation
* Presenting author
Abstract:
The main objective of the present study is to design and prototype a large size metacage for noise mitigation while allowing for some natural ventilation. The metacage consists of metablocks which is in the form of a Tonraum rssonator with thin PVC sheets as membranes on the two faces. Another form of metablocks with openings for natural ventilation and built-in Helmholtz's resonators are also designed for various levels of natural ventilations. The metablocks with the size of A4 papers are 3d printed with the PVC face sheets attaching to each block. The metablocks are then slotted into a frame made of Aluminum T slots to make the metacage reconfigurable and scalable. The metacage is then used for creating a quiet space within the cage or for shielding the noise form a machine within the cage. Both numerical simulations and experimental studies have been carried out to demonstrate the performance of this metacage. PVC sheets of various colors have been used to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the cage. Thin metallic or plastic sheets with holes can be incorporated on the surface of the metablocks to prevent accidental punching of the PVC sheets.