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SHORT NEWS

Black holes in wooden boards are supposed to dampen sound

#material science #physics #research #science

Black holes in the universe are so dense that not even light can escape. Empa researchers have now developed black holes for wooden boards that are not supposed to swallow everything, but at least sound.

Clacking and loud footsteps can be annoying. Not only in old apartments, but also in new buildings, appropriate sound insulation remains a challenge, Empa announced.

Researchers Stefan Schönwald and Sven Vallely are working on innovative wooden panels that will bring peace and quiet to rooms. The approach: so-called acoustic black holes are to swallow noise by absorbing the sound waves vibrating through the wood and allowing them to dissipate. Computer simulations showed that this should work.

Lenticular depressions

To put the test to the test, Empa researchers teamed up with the Strüby carpentry shop, which precisely mills the black holes out of real wood panels. These are not actually holes, but lens-shaped depressions.

In an initial experiment, the researchers investigated how vibrations move through the plate - and the results largely matched the computer simulations, Empa noted. Currently, impact sound measurements are being carried out in accordance with international standard specifications, Schönwald explained. Fire protection and structural properties also still need to be confirmed.

Once the test series is complete, the scientists also plan to develop a method that will show the best arrangement and shape of the indentations to the desired floor size and shape.

Written by: sda

Photos: Empa

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September 28th, 2023
Mechanics performing maintenance work on an aircraft

Researchers make non-recyclable plastic recyclable

Swiss researchers have developed a new type of recyclable plastic that could be used in aircraft, cars or wind turbines in the future.
October 2nd, 2023
Recycled asphalt was used on the Lucmanier Pass

More recycled asphalt on Swiss roads

Tests with recycled asphalt on Swiss roads show promising results. In Uster ZH and on the Lukmanier Pass GR, the proportion of recycled asphalt could be increased without any loss of performance, according to Empa.
October 16th, 2023
a photovoltaic system on a house facade

Sun soon to be the most important source of energy

The sun is likely to become the world's most important source of energy before 2050, according to British scientists. This is the result of an analysis of technological and economic data by the University of Exeter and University College London.
November 27th, 2023
A hospital room with two beds divided by a curtain

Germicidal textiles for hospitals

A new process developed by Swiss researchers makes textiles germicidal. In future, this could be used to coat curtains in hospitals.
December 25th, 2023
G.V. Shivashankar arbeitet am PSI und der ETH Zürich

Fountain of youth for cells

Reprogrammed cells allow wounds in older people to heal faster. This could, for example, help burn victims.
January 1st, 2024
A scientist taking a water sample with a bottle

Gentle identification of fish species through their DNA

Identifying fish species in a river using DNA traces: This method was tested in Switzerland. It proved to be simpler and more reliable than the electrofishing method used to date.
January 15th, 2024
pressed plastic bottles

Microplastics fly particularly far and high

Microplastic fibres fly higher and further than previously assumed - even as far as the Arctic.
January 22nd, 2024
A futuristic aircraft with a blended wing body

Aircraft of the future make less noise

In an Empa research project, study participants rated the noise of new types of aircraft as less annoying than the noise of today's aircraft.
April 9th, 2024
the airship flying over a coast

British company produces climate-friendly airship

According to its developers, the British airship Airlander 10 could take off for commercial flights with passengers from 2028.
April 22nd, 2024