Noise-absorbing Component with Embedded Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sound-absorbing components for noise protection fail to achieve high mechanical strength and weather resistance while maintaining effective sound absorption across a wide frequency range, particularly in outdoor environments exposed to wind and vandalism.

Innovation Solution

The sound-absorbing component combines a cover layer with low absorption but high mechanical strength and embedded sound-absorbing elements, utilizing diffraction edges at the interfaces between materials to enhance absorption, with the sound-absorbing elements partially or fully embedded and framed by a sound-reflecting material to maximize absorption without increasing weight or cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a continuous layer of rock wool or fibrous material is used for sound absorption, then sound absorption properties are improved, but mechanical strength and weather resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound absorption propertiesVSAvoidmechanical strength and weather resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous layer of rock wool is segmented into individual sound-absorbing elements (plates, blocks, or granules) that are distributed within the concrete matrix. This segmentation allows the concrete to provide mechanical strength and weather resistance while the distributed sound-absorbing elements maintain acoustic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material by combining concrete (providing mechanical strength and weather resistance) with sound-absorbing elements (providing acoustic absorption). The concrete matrix embeds and protects the sound-absorbing elements, creating a material that exhibits both structural and acoustic properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the overall thickness of the panel element is increased to achieve usable absorption properties, then sound absorption is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound absorption propertiesVSAvoidoverall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing thickness throughout the entire panel, the sound-absorbing elements are locally distributed within the concrete matrix. This allows sound absorption to be achieved through the internal structure rather than external thickness, maintaining a slim overall profile while providing effective absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The concrete matrix is designed with porous characteristics and embedded sound-absorbing elements that enable effective sound absorption within a reduced thickness. The porous structure allows sound waves to penetrate and be absorbed by the distributed elements without requiring a thick panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If sintered expanded glass is used for sound absorption, then weather resistance is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates due to susceptibility to mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidresistance to mechanical stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite structure where sintered expanded glass elements are embedded within a concrete matrix. The concrete provides the mechanical strength and resistance to stress, while the sintered expanded glass provides weather resistance and sound absorption. Each material compensates for the other's weaknesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The concrete matrix acts as a protective cushioning medium that surrounds and protects the fragile sintered expanded glass elements from mechanical stress. This pre-protection prevents damage during assembly and service, allowing the use of weather-resistant but mechanically vulnerable materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If highly profiled sound-absorbing profiles are used to improve sound insulation, then sound absorption is improved, but weight and overall wall thickness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses porous concrete with embedded sound-absorbing elements that provide effective sound insulation without requiring heavy, highly profiled structures. The porous structure enables sound waves to penetrate and be absorbed, achieving good insulation with reduced weight and thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

By combining concrete with distributed sound-absorbing elements, the invention achieves effective sound insulation through material composition rather than heavy profiling. This composite approach provides the necessary acoustic performance with significantly reduced weight compared to traditional highly profiled structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 results in slim, weather-resistant, and impact-resistant sound-absorbing components with significantly improved absorption in the low-frequency range, achieving high total absorption values while reducing material costs and maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

sound-absorbing elements embedded therein with a significantly higher absorption coefficient than that of the surface layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

utilizing diffraction edges at the interfaces between materials to enhance absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3310965B1Noise-absorbing component, and noise-protection wall comprising such a component
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 LIAVER
  • EP3310965B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3310965B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a noise-absorbing component, in particular for outdoor use, comprising a noise-absorbing cover layer (03) and noise absorbers (06) which are embedded into the cover layer and which have an increased degree of absorption compared to the cover layer (03). The cover layer surface, which is oriented in the direction of the noise source, is flat, and the noise absorbers (06) are mutually spaced. An open absorption surface of the noise absorbers lies on a plane parallel to the surface of the cover layer, and the surface area which is occupied by the noise absorbers (06) is smaller than the surface area which is not occupied by the noise absorbers on said plane. The invention also relates to a noise-protection wall comprising a support layer (02) and numerous noise-absorbing components attached to the support layer.