Elastic Material Coupling Vibro-Acoustic Fields via Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chiral and anti-chiral lattice structures exhibit low vibro-acoustic stiffness and impedance, limiting their effectiveness in exchanging energy with media like water, due to their low wave speeds and short wavelengths, which are advantageous for phase mitigation but impractical for energy coupling.
Innovation Solution
Designing heterogeneous elastic composites with vibro-acoustic impedance-matched unit cells, featuring joint central voids and connecting arms that adjust density and stiffness to match external media, allowing for efficient coupling and control of vibro-acoustic wave propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If chiral and anti-chiral lattice structures are designed with low vibro-acoustic stiffness to achieve low wave speeds and short wavelengths, then phase mitigation and resonance performance are improved, but vibro-acoustic impedance decreases making energy exchange with media like water impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the density and stiffness parameters of the lattice structure through geometric design. By adjusting the unit cell geometry (arm thickness, joint configuration, void ratios), the patent independently controls vibro-acoustic stiffness and density to achieve desired wave speeds while maintaining impedance match with water, resolving the contradiction between low wave speed and effective energy coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material principles by creating heterogeneous elastic composites with spatially varying properties. The lattice structure combines regions of different densities and stiffnesses (through varying arm configurations and joint designs) to achieve impedance matching with external media while maintaining low wave speeds in specific regions for phase mitigation functionality
2Speed
If material is removed to form chiral configuration of arms to reduce vibro-acoustic stiffness, then wave speeds decrease for compact spatial design, but density decreases further reducing impedance compared to water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating spatially heterogeneous structures where different regions have different material densities and stiffness properties. By locally varying the arm configurations, joint designs, and void distributions in different parts of the lattice, the patent achieves regions with low wave speeds for phase mitigation while maintaining overall impedance match with water through appropriate density distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from considering only stiffness reduction to a three-dimensional optimization problem that independently controls stiffness, density, and impedance. By utilizing the geometric degrees of freedom in the 3D lattice structure (arm orientations, joint configurations, void placements), the patent decouples the traditional stiffness-density relationship and achieves independent control of wave speed and impedance
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 solution enables effective coupling and manipulation of vibro-acoustic fields between the composite and external media, maintaining impedance match while adjusting wave speeds and impedance to suit specific applications, enhancing energy transfer and phase control.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic material includes an elastic-material vibro-acoustic impedance. The elastic-material vibro-acoustic impedance and the medium vibro-acoustic impedance are sufficiently vibro-acoustically impedance-matched to couple time-varying, propagating vibro-acoustic fields between the elastic material and the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A device for use in a medium comprising a medium vibro-acoustic impedance. The device includes an elastic material including a plurality of unit cells. The plurality of unit cells includes a first unit cell. The first unit cell includes a first unit-cell joint comprising a first unit-cell joint wall defining a first joint central void, a first unit-cell joint inclusion located in the first joint central void, and at least two first unit-cell arms connected to and extending away from the first unit-cell joint. The elastic material includes an elastic-material vibro-acoustic impedance. The elastic-material vibro-acoustic impedance and the medium vibro-acoustic impedance are sufficiently vibro-acoustically impedance-matched to couple time-varying, propagating vibro-acoustic fields between said elastic material and the medium.