Ventilated Sound-Absorbing Material Breakthrough Using Duality Symmetry
In everyday environments, creating spaces that permit ventilation while effectively reducing noise has long presented a complex engineering challenge. Materials that enable air circulation—such as vents—typically allow sound to pass through as well, undermining efforts to control unwanted noise. By contrast, conventional sound-absorbing materials like foam tend to restrict airflow, limiting their practicality in well-ventilated settings.
Breakthrough at The University of Hong Kong
A research team led by Professor Nicholas X. Fang from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong has now resolved this long-standing dilemma through innovative scientific approaches, delivering a notable breakthrough.
The team identified a fundamental physical concept known as duality symmetry, which establishes new theoretical boundaries while unlocking fresh opportunities in the design of ventilated sound-absorbing materials.
The research, undertaken in partnership with Professor I. David Abrahams from the University of Cambridge and industrial collaborator Acoustic Metamaterials Group Ltd., has been published in Nature Communications.
Scientific Explanation and Performance Results
“For me, the defining moment came when it became clear that duality symmetry—a concept originating in field theory—controls the absorption bandwidth in ventilated systems,” said Dr Sichao Qu, lead author and Research Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong. "Until now, symmetry and bandwidth were not considered directly related. Our derivation demonstrates a deep mathematical interplay between the two."
This insight reshapes long-held assumptions in acoustic engineering, linking mathematical symmetry directly to practical sound-control performance.
Innovative Two-Chamber Acoustic Design
The researchers engineered a novel ventilated structure comprising two interconnected acoustic chambers. This configuration permits unrestricted airflow while capturing and dispersing sound energy through destructive interference, delivering markedly enhanced noise reduction.
Key Structural Features
- Two interconnected acoustic chambers
- Maintains free airflow
- Utilizes destructive interference to disperse sound energy
- Designed for enhanced broadband noise absorption
Performance Surpasses Conventional Foam Panels
Experimental results revealed that the material absorbed more than 86% of sound across a broad frequency spectrum, ranging from 300 Hz to 6,000 Hz. In doing so, it surpassed conventional foam panels of equivalent thickness.
The team also introduced a new performance metric—the figure of merit (FOM)—designed to assess overall effectiveness by combining bandwidth, thickness and airflow into a single evaluation.
Measured Advantages
- Over 86% sound absorption efficiency
- Effective across 300 Hz to 6,000 Hz frequency range
- Outperforms traditional foam of similar thickness
- Introduction of a comprehensive Figure of Merit (FOM) metric
Challenging Long-Standing Theoretical Limits
Whereas the long-established principle known as the causality constraint sets a theoretical boundary between material thickness and absorption bandwidth, this research challenges those limits in ventilated systems and establishes a fresh design framework grounded in duality symmetry.
This development marks a significant shift in acoustic theory, offering new flexibility in balancing airflow and sound absorption without compromise.
Real-World Applications Across Industries
These developments could pave the way for quieter buildings, improved acoustic management in aircraft engines and more efficient vibration-damping solutions across multiple engineering disciplines. Supported by artificial intelligence and advanced simulation methods, the breakthrough shows strong promise for practical implementation—creating calmer, more comfortable environments without compromising ventilation.
Potential Applications
- Quieter residential and commercial buildings
- Enhanced aircraft engine acoustic management
- Industrial vibration-damping systems
- AI-assisted acoustic material design
- Sustainable ventilation solution
Why This Breakthrough Matters
- Resolves the long-standing ventilation vs noise control trade-off
- Introduces duality symmetry into practical acoustic engineering
- Achieves broadband high-efficiency absorption
- Establishes a new theoretical and design framework
- Demonstrates strong potential for real-world industrial adoption
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