Vehicle Cladding Panel With Acoustic Black Holes for Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration damping solutions for vehicle cabins, such as vibration decoupling pads and materials with damping characteristics, complicate attachment to the aircraft fuselage and increase weight, while materials with vibration damping properties significantly increase the mass of cladding panels.

Innovation Solution

A trim panel with a sandwich structure comprising a central layer covered by lower and upper layers, featuring acoustic black holes near fixing devices, formed by a parabolic reduction in thickness, and connected by a connecting skin, utilizing a honeycomb or recyclable foam core and damping materials to reduce vibrations without adding mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If vibration decoupling pads are mounted on panel mounting brackets, then structure-borne vibrations are reduced, but attachment complexity increases and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure-borne vibrationsVSAvoidattachment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the vibration damping function directly into the cladding panel structure by creating acoustic black holes through localized thickness reduction of the central layer, merging the structural panel and vibration damping components into a single integrated element, thereby eliminating separate vibration decoupling pads and mounting bracket modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies localized thickness reduction only in specific regions where acoustic black holes are needed near fixing devices, rather than using uniform vibration damping materials across the entire panel, achieving vibration reduction at critical locations without adding overall complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vibration decoupling pads are mounted on panel mounting brackets, then structure-borne vibrations are reduced, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure-borne vibrationsVSAvoidpanel weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration damping function is combined with the existing panel structure through acoustic black holes created by removing material in specific patterns from the central layer, rather than adding separate vibration damping components, thus reducing vibrations without increasing overall panel weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates acoustic black holes by forming localized porous or hollow regions in the central layer through thickness reduction, utilizing the porous structure to trap and dissipate vibrational energy while minimizing material usage and weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If materials or coatings with vibration damping characteristics are used, then vibrations are reduced, but panel mass significantly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationsVSAvoidpanel mass
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses acoustic black holes created by localized thickness reduction forming porous or hollow regions in the central layer, which dissipate vibrational energy through the porous structure without requiring heavy damping materials or coatings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite sandwich structure with an outer layer, central layer, and inner layer, where the acoustic black holes are formed in the central layer, creating a composite material system that achieves vibration damping through structural design rather than heavy material selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If acoustic black holes are formed by parabolic reduction of central layer thickness, then solid-borne vibrations are reduced and material usage is minimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolid-borne vibrationsVSAvoidthickness reduction precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies a parabolic curvature for the thickness reduction of the central layer to form acoustic black holes, using a mathematically defined curved surface that can be more easily manufactured with standard precision tools compared to complex irregular shapes, while still achieving the desired acoustic black hole effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The trim panel effectively reduces solid-borne vibrations and maintains structural integrity while minimizing material usage, reducing energy costs and environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

the panel comprising at least four circular acoustic black holes, the acoustic black holes being formed each near one of the panel's fixing devices, the acoustic black holes being formed at least by a parabolic reduction of one thickness of the central layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic black holes: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP4650269A1Vehicle cladding panel
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP4650269A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4650269A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4650269A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cladding panel (10) comprising at least four fixing devices (16) and a central layer (18) covered on both sides by a lower layer and an upper layer (22), the panel (10) comprising at least four circular acoustic black holes (24) formed each near one of the fixing devices (16) of the panel (10), the acoustic black holes (24) being formed at least by a parabolic reduction of a thickness (28) of the central layer (18), such that the thickness (28) of the central layer (18) decreases from an outer circumference (EC) of the acoustic black holes (24) to an inner circumference (IC) of the acoustic black holes (24) which delimits a circular central portion (26) of the acoustic black holes (24), the central portion (26) of the acoustic black holes (24) comprising only one of the lower or upper layer (22).