Abstract:Using the three-dimensional reticular nickel foam as experimental material, the sound absorption performance was investigated for several various multilayer structures in the frequency range of 2000-4000 Hz, which is aurally sensitive for human ears. The results showed that the 7.5 mm-thick foam sample, which was formed by piling of 5-layer foam plate (thickness: 1.5 mm; porosity: 96%; average pore-diameter: 0.65 mm) could exhibit an excellent sound absorption effect at 4000 Hz, with the absorption coefficient about 0.8. Constituting alternate air gap with the total thickness of about 18.5 mm can greatly improve the absorption performance at relatively low frequencies of 2000-3150 Hz, with the absorption coefficient up to about 0.5 or more. In addition, the research showed that alternate piling up the perforated plate inside the foam plates can also achieve a quite good effect of sound absorption at relatively low frequencies.

Key words: reticular nickel foam; composite structure of sound absorption; aurally sensitive frequency sound absorption