Optimization of micro-perforated sound absorber using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)

This study investigates the acoustic properties of micro-perforated panel (MPP) as an alternative to passive noise control. In order to obtain high sound absorption over broad frequency band, the analysis of sound absorption performance of MPP sound absorber should be conducted based on 3 major design parameters, such as perforation diameter, d, air cavity depth, D, and distance between perforations, b, of MPP. Next, the optimization of sound absorption coefficient for MPP sound absorber need to be done by using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and the optimum parameters of a single layer MPP sound absorber should be obtained for achieving higher sound absorption which the sound absorption coefficient, alpha > 0.5 with a wider frequency band. The PSO is used in order to optimize the panel construction to provide maximum sound absorption coefficient in a determined wide band frequency range. Experiments are carried out at normal sound incidence and plane waves. A good agreement is achieved between the theory and the experiments.