Sound Absorption Performance of Biobased Miura-Ori Origami Panel Absorbers Made from Impermeable Paper Membrane

This study examines the potential of sustainable, biobased paper-based structures as panel/membrane sound absorbers. Although intact paper is naturally impermeable and a poor sound absorber, transforming it into complex three-dimensional origami geometries, specifically the Miura-ori pattern, could produce effective panel/membrane absorbers. Three distinct Miura-ori samples (A, B, and C) were fabricated with increasing geometric complexity, ranging from a simple triangular prism to a complex labyrinthine waveguide. The random incidence sound absorption coefficients of these samples were measured in a validated small-scale reverberation room. The underlying absorption mechanisms were further investigated through modal analysis and non-contact vibration velocity measurements. The results indicate that increased geometric complexity enhances acoustic performance. Sample C, the most complex structure, demonstrated the most consistent broadband absorption. The analysis confirmed a significant positive correlation between acoustic pressure modes, surface vibration velocity, and sound absorption peaks, indicating that acoustic energy dissipation is driven by the vibrational response of the paper membrane coupled with resonant modes in the air gap. This research demonstrates that tunable origami folding techniques using intact paper can be used to design lightweight acoustic treatments for diffuse sound fields in the mid-frequency range.