Design and optimization of meta-material ventilated sound barriers for building facades: An experimental and numerical investigation

Conventional building facade materials often struggle to balance sound attenuation and ventilation. As urbanization accelerates and the demand for sustainable, occupant-friendly structures grows, innovative solutions are needed to address these dual challenges. This research introduces a meta-material ventilated sound barriers using helical cavities to enhance sound attenuation while ensuring natural ventilation. The methodology involves two stages: first, designing and optimizing arrays of helix resonators using numerical models in COMSOL Multiphysics. The optimization process evaluates critical parameters such as helix dimensions and arrangement within an array to maximize transmission loss and airflow. Second, the results are validated experimentally using an impedance tube. The proposed design is expected to deliver superior acoustic transmission loss while maintaining airflow. This combined numerical and experimental approach aims to advance the acoustic and ventilation performance of facade materials, offering a foundation for more sustainable and efficient building designs.