ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OF SOUND ABSORPTION PANELS USING MULTI-LAYER COIR FIBERS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

2 Professor, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

3 Tutor, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

4 Lecturer, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The aim of the project was to study the potential use of an innovative acoustic
absorption panel using natural organic fiber as an absorbing materials to reduce
reverberation effect in closed spaces and to improve the acoustics performance of an
enclosed space. This innovative acoustic absorption panel is developed and fabricated
using treated coir fiber as sound absorber materials. The outer layer of the panel is
fabricated from natural fiber/polyester composite. This innovative panel was tested at
acoustic lab, faculty of engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia using ISO 354
(1985) standard for noise absorption coefficient and ISO 717-1 Standard for the
transmission lost index. Simulation study was also conducted for the absorption panel
using the WinFLAGTM software. For the absorption coefficient, the experiment gives
around 0.70-0.80 from the range 1000 Hz until 1800 Hz while the simulation gives 0.7
until 0.85 for the range 500 Hz until 2500 Hz. Transmission lost index gives an average
of 20 dB for the panel.

Keywords