Sound insulation characteristics of multi-layer structures with a microperforated panel

Multi-layer structures have issues with sound insulation at low and mid-frequencies due to mass-air-mass resonance. The purpose of this study is to investigate improvements to the sound insulation performance of multi-layer structures using a microperforated panel (MPP), which can absorb well over a wide frequency range. Although MPPs have been investigated over the last several decades, almost all studies have been conducted in terms of sound absorption. Herein the sound transmission loss of multi-layer structures with flexible MPPs of infinite extent is theoretically investigated. The calculation is based on the wave equation and the equation of panel vibration including the effect of perforation of the panel. Additionally to consider a more realistic sound insulation performance, the effect of the directional distribution of the incident energy in a reverberation chamber is taken into account. Experiments are conducted using an acoustic tube to validate the calculated results and the reverberation chamber method to verify the actual sound insulation characteristics. Both experiments agree well with the theoretically calculated perforation effects. Consequently, MMPs are confirmed to improve the deterioration of sound insulation performance due to mass-air-mass resonance of multi-layer structures.