Exploration and optimization on the usage of micro-perforated panels as trim panels in commercial aircrafts

Micro-perforated panels (MPPs), as an alternative to porous materials for sound absorption, have been commonly used in electronic industries and aircraft engines but are barely used in aircraft cabins. The effect of MPPs on the sound insulation and absorption properties of aircraft cabin panels has been investigated in this article. Theoretical modeling has been conducted on an aircraft cabin panel structure with a trim panel replaced by an MPP trim panel, using the transfer matrix method and the classic MIT theory. It is indicated by the theoretical results that, although the sound transmission loss (STL) of the cabin panel with an MPP trim panel is lower than that with an un-perforated panel, the MPP trim panel can significantly enhance the sound absorption coefficient of the entire cabin panel structure. Based on the well-developed MPP theory, the sound absorption coefficient of an aircraft cabin panel with an MPP trim panel can be improved by optimizing the MPP's parameters at a specific frequency. Taking an engine frequency 273 Hz as an example, the optimization can increase the sound absorption coefficient to 1 by using the double-layered MPPs. When the thermal acoustic insulation blanket is considered, although the STL of the proposed structure with double-layered MPP trim panels in a diffuse field is lower than those without MPP trim panels, the sound absorption in the cabin is significantly enhanced due to the double-layer MPP trim panel at the specific engine frequency and across all frequencies. The STL of the structure with double-layered MPP trim panels and TAIB can be higher than 40 dB from 880 Hz in a diffuse field, which implies its effectiveness as sound insulation structure in aviation industry. MPP trim panels provide a new idea for the design of aircraft cabin panels and are worthy of further research. (C) 2020 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.