Analysis and verification of optimization of micro-perforated panels' sound absorption using the Taguchi method

This study investigated the sound absorption coefficient of micro-perforated panels with multiple design factors, using the Taguchi method for analysis and optimization. The panels, made using stereolithography technology for three-dimensional printing, had four key factors: perforation rate, hole diameter, panel thickness, and wave surface. Their absorption coefficients were measured using an impedance tube and analyzed in two directions: namely, the absorption coefficient across various frequency bands and the frequency corresponding to the maximum absorption coefficient. By utilizing the Taguchi method's orthogonal array, this study calculated the interaction and influence of these factors on sound absorption, completing the optimization and prediction of the experiment. Results showed that perforation rate and panel thickness significantly affected the absorption coefficient across all frequencies, while hole diameter mainly influenced low-frequency absorption. The wavy surface had a minor impact. The study optimized micro-perforated panels with the Taguchi method using less experimental data, and experimental verification was performed, which aligned with the prediction results. This study demonstrated that optimizing micro-perforated panels with the Taguchi method is efficient and accurately identifies the optimal combination, allowing predictions of absorption for the noises in different frequency bands or specific frequencies.