Nested Honeycomb Acoustic Panels for Precise Structure Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acoustic panels face challenges in correctly positioning and maintaining the alignment of honeycomb structures relative to each other for optimal acoustic treatment.

Innovation Solution

The acoustic panel design incorporates a first cellular structure with a recess to house a second cellular structure and an acoustically resistive layer, along with a reinforcement between the layers, ensuring precise alignment and positioning of the structures through an offset configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two honeycomb structures are arranged between two external layers, then acoustic treatment is provided, but correct positioning and alignment of the honeycomb structures relative to each other becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic treatment performanceVSAvoidpositioning precision of honeycomb structures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The second honeycomb structure is nested within a recess of the first honeycomb structure, creating a hierarchical arrangement where one cellular structure is positioned inside another. This nesting configuration inherently maintains precise alignment and spacing between the two structures, eliminating positioning difficulties while preserving acoustic treatment performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A porous acoustically resistive layer is introduced as an intermediary element between the two honeycomb structures. This intermediate layer facilitates correct positioning and maintains optimal spacing, ensuring that the honeycomb structures remain properly aligned relative to each other while still providing effective acoustic treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If honeycomb structures are positioned to optimize acoustic treatment, then sound absorption performance is improved, but structural integrity and alignment maintenance become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound absorption performanceVSAvoidalignment stability of honeycomb structures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the second honeycomb structure within a recess of the first structure, the design inherently stabilizes the alignment between the two cellular structures. The recess provides a geometric constraint that maintains optimal spacing and orientation, ensuring both acoustic performance and alignment stability without requiring additional fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines multiple functions into the recess structure: it provides positioning, maintains spacing, ensures alignment, and contributes to structural integrity. This merging of functions into a single geometric feature simplifies the overall design while simultaneously achieving optimal acoustic treatment and stable alignment maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design optimizes acoustic treatment by aligning the honeycomb structures, minimizing acoustic losses, and maintaining structural integrity, thereby enhancing sound absorption performance.

Implementation Method 1

a first acoustically resistive layer (porous to acoustic waves)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

a first acoustically resistive layer (porous to acoustic waves)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 3

a reflective layer (impermeable to acoustic waves)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4253031B1Acoustic panel comprising at least two honeycomb structures nested in one another, aircraft comprising at least one such acoustic panel
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP4253031B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an acoustic panel comprising first and second honeycomb structures (18, 20). The first honeycomb structure (18) includes a recess (30) to form a housing dimensioned to accommodate the second honeycomb structure (20) such that the first faces of the first and second honeycomb structures (18, 20), in contact with a first acoustically resistive layer (14), are coplanar, and the first edges (26.1, 28.1) of the first and second honeycomb structures (18, 20) are coplanar when the second edge (26.2) of the second honeycomb structure (20) is in contact with the recess (30). Thanks to the recess (30), the first and second honeycomb structures 18, 20 are correctly positioned relative to each other, which contributes to optimizing acoustic treatment. The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one such acoustic panel (10).