Unit cell and structural panel assemblies with enhanced impact and noise absorption characteristics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional structures struggle to withstand high-intensity impacts without significant damage and often require heavy, bulky designs to mitigate noise effectively, while traditional noise reduction methods are inefficient and limited in attenuating specific frequency ranges.
Innovation Solution
A unit cell and structural panel assembly combining quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) structures, scattering phononic crystals (SPCs), and locally-resonating phononic crystals (LRPCs) using additive manufacturing and molding techniques, which absorb impact energy and selectively attenuate sound waves by converting them to heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid structures are used to withstand impact, then impact resistance is improved, but weight and structural damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the structural parameters by introducing QZS mechanisms that change the stiffness characteristics of the structure. The QZS spring members and phononic crystal structures enable the panel to exhibit quasi-zero stiffness under static conditions (reducing weight) while maintaining high impact resistance through dynamic energy absorption mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structural design by integrating multiple functional elements: QZS spring members, phononic crystal structures, and barrier materials into a unified panel assembly. This composite approach combines the lightweight benefits of spring-based QZS structures with the noise attenuation capabilities of phononic crystals, achieving both impact resistance and noise control without excessive weight.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional noise reduction methods are used, then noise attenuation is improved, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by designing the QZS panel structure to simultaneously provide impact resistance and noise attenuation. The phononic crystal structures embedded within the QZS framework serve dual purposes: maintaining the quasi-zero stiffness mechanical properties while providing frequency-selective noise filtering, eliminating the need for separate noise control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the phononic crystal structures to achieve noise attenuation. By carefully designing the geometric parameters and material properties of the phononic crystals, the structure creates frequency bandgaps that selectively block noise transmission, providing effective noise control without requiring heavy traditional acoustic insulation materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional structures are used for noise reduction, then general noise reduction is achieved, but effectiveness in specific frequency ranges is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing phononic crystal structures with specific geometric configurations at different locations within the panel. These localized structures are tailored to target specific frequency ranges, with varying unit cell geometries and arrangements that create frequency-dependent bandgaps, enabling precise control over which noise frequencies are attenuated.
4Strength
If QZS structures are used to absorb impact energy, then impact sustainability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the QZS impact absorption mechanism with phononic crystal noise attenuation structures into a single integrated panel assembly. The QZS spring members and phononic crystal lattices are combined in a unified structure that simultaneously provides impact energy absorption and noise filtering, reducing overall structural complexity compared to separate systems.
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 provides enhanced impact sustainability and targeted noise attenuation, minimizing structural damage and weight, while offering versatility and seamless integration into various structures.
Implementation Method 1
The phononic crystal is a disc that acts as a SPC for attenuating high-frequency sound waves within the unit cell assembly
Implementation Method 2
The phononic crystal is a disc that acts as a vibrating mass for the LRPC spring members for attenuating low-frequency sound waves within the unit cell assembly by converting the low-frequency sound waves to heat by vibration
Implementation Method 3
the concept of QZS structures has emerged as a promising approach to effectively absorb and dissipate impact energy
Implementation Method 4
The inner frame member is a closed frame member including a barrier material attenuating the transmission of sound waves out of the unit cell assembly through the inner frame member
Data Source
AI summary
A structural panel assembly including an array of unit cell assemblies. Each unit cell assembly includes: an outer frame member spaced apart from an inner frame member; a plurality of quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) spring members disposed between the inner frame member and the outer frame member; a phononic crystal disposed between the inner frame member and the outer frame member; and a plurality of locally-resonating phononic crystals (LRPC) spring members disposed between the phononic crystal and one or more of the inner frame member and the outer frame member. The phononic crystal acts as a scattering phononic crystal (SPC) for attenuating high-frequency sound waves within the unit cell assembly and as a vibrating mass for the LRPC spring members for attenuating low-frequency sound waves within the unit cell assembly by converting the low-frequency sound waves to heat by vibration.