Full scale metamaterial window for building application

The latest research on acoustic metamaterials (AMMs) has a focus on the potential of noise and airflow in duct-like systems. This is an interesting feature if related to windows, which, although, should also allow the visual connection between indoor and outdoor. For this reason, the complexity of the exist AMMs geometry makes them not optimal for this application. In this research, an AMM developed previously is adapted and applied to full-scale window design. The metamaterial is located in the classic window frame so to allow using the panel only for the visual task. A broadband frequencies stopband is generated by the resonant unit cells in the AMM. The impact of the scale variation on the window performance from both acoustic and airflow point of view is analysed numerically through Finite Element Method (FEM). The performance of different sizes and shapes of windows and AMMs systems are compared with those of conventional window designs. Interesting correlation between AMMs structure and the traditional window functions is highlighted, in terms of noise reduction, natural ventilation, visual connection. The simulation results show that this new acoustic metamaterial-based window design might lead to a series of new structures which overcome the limitations of the previous technologies.