Issued patent
A Method for Reducing Broadband Noise
An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.
About this technology
Overview
Researchers at NASA's Glenn and Langley Research Centers have developed a groundbreaking bio-mimicking acoustic liner for quieting noisy environments. Conventional approaches have not been able to absorb sound effectively in the 400-3000 Hz range, thereby subjecting humans to excessive noise pollution at the low end of the auditory range. The NASA innovation relies on parallel-stacked tube filters, which improve noise reduction in this range by as much as 25% over conventional melamine or honeycomb solutions. Inspired by the structure of natural reeds, these porous tubes are arranged to maximize acoustic absorption while also realizing significant benefits in weight, size, and extreme-temperature functionality. Since broadband noise represents one of the most significant potential environmental constraints to increasing capacity, efficiency, and flexibility in a host of different arenas, this technology could prove invaluable in multiple applications including aircraft cabin liners, school buses and other vehicles, industrial environments, and building construction.