TOOLS to minimize the volume of sound absorbing panels

Here you will find tools for analyzing and maximizing the compactness of passive acoustic absorption treatments.

Reflections on the volume of absorption treatments are presented in this blog article.

Performance indices

This tool allows you to analyze the performance of a treatment in relation to its thickness and absorption coefficient, which are entered as input values.

Three performance indices are calculated. See this article for more details:

(P1) Theoretical height required to achieve the displayed absorption relative to the height of the treatment. This is an assessment of how well the treatment volume is used to achieve its absorption. The higher the value, the less unnecessary volume the treatment requires to achieve its absorption.

(P2) Treatment height used to cause treatment absorption on [fmin; fmax] relative to the theoretical height required to cause the displayed absorption. This is the evaluation of the absorption concentration over the desired frequency range.

λ0(fmin)/H: Ratio between the wavelength in air at frequency fmin and the height of the treatment.

List of references (if you would like a reference to be added, please contact us):

• Yang 2016 : doi.org/10.1039/C7MH00129K

• Boulvert 2020 : https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0032809 

• Gao 2020 : doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67688-x

• Jimenez 2016 : doi.org/10.1063/1.4962328

• Tang 2017 : doi.org/10.1038/srep43340 

• Wang 2024 : doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2024.113351

• Boccaccio 2020 : doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107901

• Rafique 2023 : doi.org/10.1177/14644207221126810

• Boulvert 2019 : doi.org/10.1063/1.5119715

• Guan 2025 : doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2025.113852

Choice of absorption coefficient

A series of examples of absorption coefficients taken from the literature is preloaded into the tool.

To obtain the absorption values, we digitized the curves presented in the articles, giving priority to values from numerical simulations. When the low-frequency absorption values were not visible in the figures of the articles from which the data was taken, the curves were completed using “physical common sense.” This may result in an over- or underestimation of low-frequency absorption, which can significantly impact the calculation of the minimum air height.

The images that appear depending on the selected absorption coefficient illustrate the type of treatment.

You can also enter your own absorption curves.

• Given the significant impact of low frequencies, it is important not to truncate the low-frequency absorption coefficient if it is not very close to zero. For simplicity, it is advisable to consider the absorption spectrum from 20 Hz onwards.

• Your file must have the following structure: .txt format / Column 1: Frequencies / Column 2: Absorption coefficient. The two columns are separated by a tab. The decimal separator is a period. Frequencies must be included in ]0 ; ∞[. The absorption coefficient must be included in [0; 1[. A sample file is available for download by clicking on the button below:
  

Optimization tool

Maximize absorption while minimizing volume

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