Broadband low-frequency sound-absorbing metastructure based on an impedance-matching coiled-up cavity with continuously variable cross section

Proposed here is a metastructure based on a micro-perforated panel and an impedance-matching coiled-up cavity with continuously variable cross section, which achieves perfect absorption with a resonant frequency of 496 Hz and an absolute bandwidth (α ≥ 0.5) of 468 Hz. The structure thickness is ca. 1/13 of the operating wavelength λ in the deep subwavelength range. A relative bandwidth of 84.04%–111.67% is achieved through parametric studies. Physically, the continuous variation of the cavity cross section through which sound waves enter weakens the acoustic reflections generated by cross-sectional abruptness and enhances the impedance matching with the air. Furthermore, particle swarm optimization is coupled with a theoretical model to tailor the metastructure to realize the maximum absorption coefficient in the defined frequency range. It is shown theoretically that coherent coupling “weak resonance”—in which each unit individually exhibits imperfect absorption peaks—significantly improves the absorption performance in a broad frequency band through the coherent coupling effect. Finally, a hybrid metastructure using a parallel coupling sample is fabricated, and its acoustic properties are measured in an impedance tube. The average absorption coefficient of this metastructure is 0.934 in the quasi-perfect band (α > 0.9) from 400 to 650 Hz, and the thickness is only ca. λ/15. The unique innovation of a cavity with continuously variable cross section provides new ideas for designing broadband low-frequency sound-absorbing metastructures.