Project aims for acoustic metamaterials in personal audio

This is the aim of Dr Joseph Jackson, lecturer in electronic and electrical engineering at Strathclyde who has been awarded £422,394 to undertake the two-year project.

Acoustic metamaterials can be used to cloak objects from sound, suppress noise extremely efficiently, and otherwise manipulate sound.

These properties are made possible by the shape and geometry of the metamaterial and advanced manufacturing techniques now make it possible to build complex geometrical objects with 3D-printing at the microscale.

3D printed metamaterials offer novel optical properties

This presents an opportunity to 3D-print small acoustic systems that can be stacked together to create acoustic metamaterials that work at audio frequencies.

“Unfortunately, acoustic metamaterials, which promise a step change in the way materials interact with sound, are still very large for audio frequencies,” said Dr Jackson. “We will try and miniaturise acoustic materials to make sound absorbing materials that are small and lightweight while retaining good acoustic function.”