This super film can significantly reduce low frequency noise in the aircraft cabin

For those who travel frequently by plane, they may be accustomed to the "noise" generated during the flight. However, recent researchers from North Carolina State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a super film that can be applied to aircraft to dramatically reduce "low frequency" noise in the cabin.

“This design is especially suitable for structures that are hard, lightweight and require sound insulation,” said Yun Jing, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University.

Typically, aircraft designs incorporate a honeycomb-like structure that uses light materials for use in the wings and cabins, especially the floors and ceilings in the cabin. The honeycomb structure ensures the robustness of the aircraft cabin, while the light weight can reduce the weight of the entire body, thus achieving fuel-saving purposes.

However, this honeycomb structure does not perform well in shielding "low frequency" noise (such as from aircraft engine noise). If you want to increase the sound insulation material that shields such noise, it will greatly increase the weight of the aircraft, so that the fuel consumption of the aircraft will increase. To this end, researchers at North Carolina State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a viable solution.

They developed an ultra-thin, lightweight film that covered one side of the honeycomb structure, just like the drumhead. When the sound waves reach the film layer, they are "bounced back" instead of going through.

“This is a way to effectively shield low-frequency noise.” Jing said, “For low-frequency sounds below 500 Hz, the honeycomb structure with this super-film can reduce sound energy by 100-1000 times.” The rubber composition, which is only 0.25 mm thick, weighs only 6% of the weight of the entire honeycomb panel.

“This super film is relatively inexpensive to produce, and any material that does not damage the integrity of the honeycomb panel can be used as a source of this material,” said research team member Ni Sui. “This design can bring a very A pleasant flight, especially for those who take a helicopter."