Exploring 3-D-printed structures for sound absorption, insulation, and diffusion

This presentation introduces a series of case studies on 3-D-printed acoustic materials designed for sound absorption, insulation, and diffusion. These materials take advantage of the flexibility of additive manufacturing to realize complex geometries that are often difficult to fabricate using conventional methods. The exhibit introduces (1) microstructured periodic absorbers that control sound absorption performance, (2) sound-insulating materials that utilize phononic bandgaps to achieve both sound insulation and airflow, and (3) sound diffusers based on either randomly generated geometries such as Voronoi tessellations or structured folding inspired by origami. Each example is introduced with an explanation of its acoustic function and the underlying design principles. A selection of 3-D-printed samples will be presented, and a simple demonstration will accompany the exhibit to help visualize and better understand the relevant acoustic phenomena. The goal is to provide attendees with a hands-on and intuitive perspective on how geometry and structure can be leveraged to control sound.