Organic Waste as a Soundproofing Material: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study is to develop new acoustic materials and panels that high sound transmission loss (STL), low carbon emissions, high sensitivity to human health, and also do not harm the indoor air quality. These materials are currently grown in Turkey and can be easily adopted in the industry. It has been comparatively analyzed that the developed materials can be alternatives to the synthetic materials on the market. Methods In the experiment box similar to Alpha Cabin, which was designed and developed before, the STL values were obtained by conducting experiments in the frequency range 500–8000 Hz. with many natural and synthetic materials. In the study, low carbon emission natural materials with a STL of more than 30 dB were selected. Simulation The experimentally measured samples were simulated in the acoustic module of the ANSYS program and compared with the results. Conclusion The main purpose of choosing cones and walnut shells grown in our country is to contribute to the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere and green areas by increasing the cultivation of pine and walnut trees. In the tests of the samples, it was determined that the highest STL was 63.27 dB in the concave and egg-shaped sample, and 62.41 dB in the concave walnut shell and egg form. It is envisaged that the materials we obtained can be used in the sound insulation of machines and devices that produce 85 dB and above sound harmful to human health according to ILO and WHO standards.