Effect of a honeycomb on the absorption characteristics of double-leaf microperforated panel (MPP) space sound absorbers

Sound absorbers using a microperforated panel (MPP) is usually not strong enough for room interior surfaces because MPPs are in general very thin. In order to solve this weakness, the authors proposed to use a honeycomb attached behind an MPP in the air-back cavity. In the authors previous studies a honeycomb is effective to improve the sound absorption performance of an ordinary wall-backed single-leaf MPP sound absorber. The honeycomb can also be applied to a space sound absorbing structures such as a double-leaf MPP space absorber (DLMPP). In this study, the effect of a honeycomb in the air-cavity on the sound absorption characteristics of a DLMPP is theoretically analysed. In the theory a Helmholtz-Kirchhoff integral formulation is utilised. The theory is validated with experimental results. The effect of the honeycomb on the sound absorption characteristics is discussed through the numerical examples calculated by the present theory. The results show that the honeycomb enhances the resonance peak and shifts it to lower freqeuencies. Although the honeycomb is effective to improve the sound absorption performance of a DLMPP at around resonance peak, it does not affect the additional low frequency absorption which is particular to a DLMPP.