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In this review, we present the results on sub-wavelength perfect acoustic absorption using acoustic metamaterials made of Helmholtz resonators with different setups. Low frequency perfect absorption requires to increase the number of states at low frequencies and finding the good conditions for impedance matching with the background medium. If, in addition, one wishes to reduce the geometric dimensions of the proposed structures for practical issues, one can use properly designed local resonators and achieve sub-wavelength perfect absorption. Helmholtz resonators have been shown good candidates due to their easy tunability of the geometry, so of the resonance frequency, the energy leakage and the intrinsic losses. When plugged to a waveguide or a surrounding medium they behave as open, lossy and resonant systems characterized by their energy leakage and intrinsic losses. The balance between these two represents the critical coupling condition and gives rise to maximum energy absorption. The critical coupling mechanism is represented here in the complex frequency plane in order to interpret the impedance matching condition. In this review we discuss in detail the possibility to obtain perfect absorption by these critical coupling conditions in different systems such as reflection (one-port), transmission (two-ports) or three-ports systems.

The optimal absorption of flexural energy by the critical coupling of a locally resonant grating embedded in a thin plate is reported in this work for the reflection and transmission problems. The grating is made of a 1D-periodic array of local resonators. A viscoelastic coating is also placed on top of each resonator to control the intrinsic losses of the system. The scattering matrices for the propagative waves of both problems are obtained by means of the Layered Multiple Scattering Theory and validated by the Finite Element Method. In this work, we find that the perfect absorption can be obtained in the reflection problem and the maximal absorption in the transmission problem is limited to 50% by tuning the losses only. These results agree with the theoretical predictions since the eigenvalues reduce to the reflection coefficient in the reflection problem and only one of the two eigenvalues of the scattering matrix is critically coupled in the transmission problem. These results highlight the adaptability of the critical coupling method to optimize the absorption of locally resonant materials for flexural waves in 2D transmission and reflection problems, and pave the way to the design of resonators for efficient flexural wave absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a procedure to design two-dimensional acoustic structures with prescribed scattering properties. The structures are designed from targeted properties in the reciprocal space so that their structure factors, i.e. their scattering patterns under the Born approximation, exactly follow the desired scattering properties for a set of wavelengths. The structures are made of a distribution of rigid circular cross-sectional cylinders embedded in air. We demonstrate the efficiency of the procedure by designing two-dimensional stealth acoustic materials with broadband back-scattering suppression independent of the angle of incidence and equiluminous acoustic materials exhibiting broadband scattering of equal intensity also independent of the angle of incidence. The scattering intensities are described in terms of both single and multiple scattering formalisms, showing excellent agreement with each other, thus validating the scattering properties of each material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the feasibility of cloaking an obstacle using Plate-type Acoustic Metamaterials (PAMs). We present two distinct strategies to cloak this obstacle, using either the near-zero-density regime of a periodic arrangement of plates or the acoustic doping phenomenon to achieve simultaneous zero-phase propagation and impedance matching. The strong limitations induced by viscothermal and viscoelastic losses that cannot be avoided in such a system are studied. A hiding zone is reported analytically, numerically, and experimentally. In contrast to cloaking, where zero-phase propagation must be accompanied by total transmission and zero reflection, the hiding configuration requires that the scattering properties of the hiding device must not be affected by the presence of the obstacle embedded in it. Contrary to cloaking, the hiding phenomenon is achievable even with a realistic PAM possessing unavoidable losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stealthy hyperuniform point patterns are characterized by a vanishing spatial Fourier transform around the origin of the reciprocal vector space. The long-range point density fluctuations are suppressed as well in materials consisting of such distribution of scatterers, opening up opportunities to control waves. Beside wave transport in such structured materials are driven by several elements, such as the acoustic properties of the host material, the scatterer characteristics, i.e., dimensions or resonant features, and the scatterer distribution patterns. The effects of these three basic elements on the wave transport properties are usually hard to discriminate. In this work, we analyze the transport properties of acoustic waves in one-dimensional phononic materials constituted of either non-resonant or resonant scatterers distributed along stealthy hyperuniform patterns in air. The pattern is controlled by the stealthiness, allowing us to continuously vary from random phononic materials to phononic crystals. The properties of the scatterers are controlled by their size and/or the resonant frequencies. The properties of the host material are controlled by the viscothermal losses. Transport properties of stealthy hyperuniform materials are found to be robust to both the scatterer dimensions and inherent viscothermal losses, while strongly affected by the scatterer resonances, which introduce sharp dips in the transmission coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sound diffusion refers to the ability of a surface to evenly scatter sound energy in both time and space. However, omni-directional radiation of sound, or perfect diffusion, can be impractical or difficult to reach under traditional means. This is due to the considerable size required, and the lack of tunability, of typical quarter-wavelength scattering strategies necessary for producing the required complexity of the surface acoustic impedance. As such, it can be a challenge to design sound diffusing structures that can display near perfect diffusion performance within slim dimensions. In this work, we propose a method for obtaining quasi-perfect and broadband sound diffusion coefficients using deep-subwavelength acoustic diffusers, i.e., metadiffusers. The relation among the geometry of the metasurface, the bandwidth, and the diffusion performance is analytically and numerically studied. For moderate bandwidths, around 1/3 of an octave, the method results in nearly perfect sound diffusion, while for a bandwidth of 2.5 octaves, a normalized diffusion coefficient of 0.8 was obtained using panels 1/30th thinner than traditional phase-grating designs. The ratio between the wavelength and the size of the unit cell was identified as a limitation of the performance. This work demonstrates the versatility and effectiveness of metadiffusers to generate diffuse reflections outperforming those of classical sound diffusers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically, numerically and experimentally report the localization of an acoustic wave at the interface between two one-dimensional hyperuniform materials of different geometrical representations. These materials suppress the acoustic scattering in the long wavelength regime, being rather disordered and degenerate, while possessing a wide band gap. In this work, these hyperuniform materials are made of an air-filled acoustic waveguide with rigid diaphragms acting as scatterers. A wide band gap and the emergence of the edge modes provide promising applications in wave control devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we present the results on sub-wavelength perfect acoustic absorption using acoustic metamaterials made of Helmholtz resonators with different setups. Low frequency perfect absorption requires to increase the number of states at low frequencies and finding the good conditions for impedance matching with the background medium. If, in addition, one wishes to reduce the geometric dimensions of the proposed structures for practical issues, one can use properly designed local resonators and achieve subwavelength perfect absorption. Helmholtz resonators have been shown good candidates due to their easy tunability of the geometry, so of the resonance frequency, the energy leakage and the intrinsic losses. When plugged to a waveguide or a surrounding medium they behave as open, lossy and resonant systems characterized by their energy leakage and intrinsic losses. The balance between these two represents the critical coupling condition and gives rise to maximum energy absorption. The critical coupling mechanism is represented here in the complex frequency plane in order to interpret the impedance matching condition. In this review we discuss in detail the possibility to obtain perfect absorption by these critical coupling conditions in different systems such as reflection (one-port), transmission (two-ports) or three-ports systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of sound beams in- and behind three-dimensional sonic crystals at frequencies close to the band edges is presented. An efficient collimation of the beam behind the crystal is predicted and experimentally demonstrated. This effect could allow the design of sources of high spatial quality sound beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical properties of a periodic distribution of absorbent resonators is used in this work to design a tunable wideband bandstop acoustic filter. Analytical and numerical simulations as well as experimental validations show that the control of the resonances and the absorption of the scatterers along with their periodic arrangement in air introduce high technological possibilities to control noise. Sound manipulation is perhaps the most obvious application of the structures presented in this work. We apply this methodology to develop a device as an alternative to the conventional acoustic barriers with several properties from the acoustical point of view but also with additional esthetic and constructive characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evanescent modes in complete sonic crystals (SCs) and SC with point defects are reported both theoretically and experimentally in this paper. Plane wave expansion (PWE) and in general, ω(k) methods have been used to calculate band structures showing gaps that have been interpreted as ranges of frequencies where no real k exists. In this work, we extend PWE to solve the complex k(ω) problem applied to SC, introducing the supercell approximation for studying one vacancy. Explicit matrix formulation of the equations is given. This k(ω) method enables the calculation of complex band structures, as well as enabling an analysis of the propagating modes related with real values of the function k(ω), and the evanescent modes related with imaginary values of k(ω). This paper shows theoretical results and experimental evidences of the evanescent behavior of modes inside the SC band gap. Experimental data and numerical results using the finite elements method are in very good agreement with the predictions obtained using the k(ω) method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically, numerically, and experimentally analyze the Density-Near-Zero (DNZ) regime of a one-dimensional acoustic metamaterial. This acoustic metamaterial is composed of thin elastic plates periodically clamped in an air-filled waveguide, and the effective dynamic zero mass density is obtained from the strong dispersion around the bandgaps associated with the resonances of the plates. We emphasize the importance of the impedance mismatch between the acoustic metamaterial and the surrounding waveguide at the frequency of the zero effective density in addition to the consequences of the inherent losses. As a result, the frequency of the zero phase propagation, i.e., the acoustic propagation with zero phase delay, is not exactly the frequency of the zero density and lies in the frequency bandgap where the effective density is negative. Considering these limitations, the zero phase propagation is still experimentally observed and a subwavelength acoustic dipole is numerically designed, thus demonstrating the possible realistic implementations of DNZ acoustic metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acoustic metadiffuser is a subwavelength locally resonant surface relying on slow sound propagation. Its design consists of rigidly backed slotted panels, with each slit being loaded by an array of Helmholtz resonators. Due to the slow sound properties, the effective thickness of the panel can therefore be dramatically reduced when compared to traditional diffusers made of quarter-wavelength resonators. The aim of this work is to experimentally validate the concept of metadiffusers from the scattering measurements of a specific metadiffuser design, i.e., a quadratic residue metadiffuser. The experimental results reported herein are in close agreement with analytical and numerical predictions, therefore showing the potential of metadiffusers for controlling sound diffusion at very low frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work theoretically analyzes the sound absorption properties of a chirped multi-layer porous material including transmission, in particular showing the broadband unidirectional absorption properties of the system. Using the combination of the impedance matching condition and the balance between the leakage and the intrinsic losses, the system is designed to have broadband unidirectional and quasi perfect absorption. The transfer and scattering matrix formalism, together with numerical simulations based on the finite element method are used to demonstrate the results showing excellent agreement between them. The proposed system allows to construct broadband sound absorbers with improved absorption in the low frequency regime using less amount of material than the complete bulk porous layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric propagation of acoustic waves is theoretically reported in a chirped phononic crystal made of the combination of two different nonlinear solids. The dispersion of the system is spatially dependent and allows the rainbow trapping inside the structure. Nonlinearity is used to activate the self-demodulation effect, which is enhanced due to the particular dispersion characteristics of the system. The performed numerical study reveals an efficient generation of the demodulated wave, up to 15% in terms of the pressure amplitude, as well as strong attenuation for undesired frequency components above the cut-off frequency. The obtained energy rectification ratio is in the order of 104 for the whole range of amplitudes employed in this work, indicating the robustness of the asymmetry and non-reciprocity of the proposed device for a wide operational range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the concepts of slow sound and critical coupling, an ultra-thin acoustic metamaterial panel for perfect and quasi-omnidirectional absorption is theoretically and experimentally conceived in this work. The system is made of a rigid panel with a periodic distribution of thin closed slits, the upper wall of which is loaded by Helmholtz Resonators (HRs). The presence of resonators produces a slow sound propagation shifting the resonance frequency of the slit to the deep subwavelength regime (λ=88). By controlling the geometry of the slit and the HRs, the intrinsic viscothermal losses can be tuned in order to exactly compensate the energy leakage of the system and fulfill the critical coupling condition to create the perfect absorption of sound in a large range of incidence angles due to the deep subwavelength behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reflection of sound of frequency below 1 kHz, by a rigid-backed structure that contains subwavelength resonators is studied in this work. In particular, only single mode reflected waves are considered, an approximation which is accurate in this low frequency regime. A method of analysis of absorption that uses the structure of the reflection coefficient in the complex frequency plane is proposed. In the absence of losses, the reflection coefficient supports pairs of poles and zeros that are complex conjugate and which have imaginary parts linked to the energy leakage by radiation. When losses are introduced and balanced to the leakage, the critical coupling condition is satisfied and total absorption is obtained. Examples of a slot resonator and of multiple Helmholtz resonators are analyzed to obtain both narrow and broadband total absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We experimentally report perfect acoustic absorption through the interplay of the inherent losses and transparent modes with high Q factor. These modes are generated in a two-port, one-dimensional waveguide, which is side-loaded by isolated resonators of moderate Q factor. In symmetric structures, we show that in the presence of small inherent losses, these modes lead to coherent perfect absorption associated with one-sided absorption slightly larger than 0.5. In asymmetric structures, near perfect one-sided absorption is possible (96%) with a deep sub-wavelength sample (π=28, where π is the wavelength of the sound wave in the air). The control of strong absorption by the proper tuning of the radiation leakage of few resonators with weak losses will open possibilities in various wave-control devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the nonlinear focusing of ultrasonic waves by an axisymmetric diffraction grating immersed in water. In the linear regime, the system presents high focal gain (32 dB), with a narrow beam-width and intense side lobes as it is common in focusing by Fresnel-like lenses. Activating the nonlinearity of the host medium by using high amplitude incident waves, the focusing properties of the lens dramatically change. Theoretical predictions show that the focal gain of the system extraordinary increases in the strongly nonlinear regime (Mach number of 6.1×10-4). Particularly, the harmonic generation is locally activated at the focal spot, and the second harmonic beam is characterized by strongly reduced side-lobes and an excellent beam profile as experiments show in agreement with theory. The results can motivate applications in medical therapy or second harmonic imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of sound inside a two dimensional exponentially chirped crystal during the soft reflections of waves is experimentally and theoretically explored in this work. The control of this enhancement is achieved by a gradual variation of the dispersion in the system by means of a chirp of the lattice constant. The sound enhancement is produced at some planes of the crystal in which the wave is softly reflected due to a progressive slowing down of the sound wave. We find that the character of the sound enhancement depends on the function of the variation of dispersion, i.e., on the function of the chirp. A simple coupled mode theory is proposed to find the analytical solutions of the sound wave enhancement in the exponentially chirped crystal. Harmonic and time domain numerical simulations are performed to interpret the concept of the soft reflections, and to check the analytically calculated field distributions both in good agreement with experiments. Specially we obtain stronger sound enhancement than in linearly chirped crystals. This sound enhancement could motivate applications in energy harvesting, e.g., to increase the efficiency of detectors and absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the propagation of waves in a periodic array of absorbing layers. We report an anomalous increase of wave transmission through the structure related to a decrease of the absorption around the Bragg frequencies. The effect is first discussed in terms of a generic coupled wave model extended to include losses, and its predictions can be applied to different types of waves propagating in media with periodic modulation of the losses at the wavelength scale. The particular case of sound waves in an array of porous layers embedded in air is considered. An experiment designed to test the predictions demonstrates the existence of the enhanced transmission band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design of a structured material supporting complete absorption of sound with a broadband response and functional for any direction of incident radiation. The structure which is fabricated out of porous lamellas is arranged into a low-density crystal and backed by a reflecting support. Experimental measurements show that strong all-angle sound absorption with almost zero reflectance takes place for a frequency range exceeding two octaves. We demonstrate that lowering the crystal filling fraction increases the wave interaction time and is responsible for the enhancement of intrinsic material dissipation, making the system more absorptive with less material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phononic crystals are artificial materials made of a periodic distribution of solid scatterers embedded into a solid host medium with different physical properties. An interesting case of phononic crystals, known as sonic crystals (SCs), appears when the solid scatterers are periodically embedded in a fluid medium. In SCs only longitudinal modes are allowed to propagate and both the theoretical and the experimental studies of the properties of the system are simplified without loss of generality. The most celebrated property of these systems is perhaps the existence of spectral band gaps. However, the periodicity of the system can also affect to the spatial dispersion, making possible the control of the diffraction inside these structures. In this work we study the main features of the spatial dispersion in SCs from a novel point of view taking into account the evanescent properties of the system, i.e., studying the complex spatial dispersion relations. The evanescent behavior of the propagation of waves in the angular band gaps are theoretically and experimentally observed in this work. Both the numerical predictions and the experimental results show the presence of angular band gaps in good agreement with the complex spatial dispersion relation. The results shown in this work are independent of the spatial scale of the structure, and in principle the fundamental role of the evanescent waves could be also expected in micro- or nanoscale phononic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tunable and the engineering possibilities of waveguides in periodic arrays made of rigid square-rod scatterers are theoretically and experimentally reported in this work. Due to the square shape of the scatterers, the control of their orientation with respect to the direction of the incident wave can be used for moulding the propagating acoustic waves inside the periodic structure. On the one hand, the plane wave expansion with supercell approximation is used to obtain the band structure of the periodic system. On the other hand, the scattering of waves in finite periodic arrays is analysed using the finite elements method. Experimentally, a prototype made of rigid square-rod scatterers is used to validate the theoretical predictions. A spatial-frequency filter and some applications in waveguiding for audible sound are discussed in this work. Good agreement between theory and experiments and the high tunability of the system are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a mechanism of sound wave concentration based on soft reflections in chirped sonic crystals. The reported controlled field enhancement occurs at around particular (bright) planes in the crystal and is related to a progressive slowing down of the sound wave as it propagates along the material. At these bright planes, a substantial concentration of the energy (with a local increase up to 20 times) was obtained for a linear chirp and for frequencies around the first band gap. A simple couple mode theory is proposed that interprets and estimates the observed effects. Wave concentration energy can be applied to increase the efficiency of detectors and absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex band structures calculated using the extended plane wave expansion (EPWE) reveal the presence of evanescent modes in periodic systems, never predicted by the classical ω(→k) methods, providing novel interpretations of several phenomena as well as a complete picture of the system. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally observe that in the ranges of frequencies where a deaf band is traditionally predicted, an evanescent mode with excitable symmetry appears, changing drastically the interpretation of the transmission properties. On the other hand, the simplicity of the sonic crystals in which only the longitudinal polarization can be excited is used to interpret, without loss of generality, the level repulsion between symmetric and antisymmetric bands in sonic crystals as the presence of an evanescent mode connecting both repelled bands. These evanescent modes, obtained using EPWE, explain both the attenuation produced in this range of frequencies and the transfer of symmetry from one band to the other in good agreement with both experimental results and multiple scattering predictions. Thus, the evanescent properties of the periodic system have been revealed to be necessary for the design of new acoustic and electromagnetic applications based on periodicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work theoretically and experimentally reports the evanescent connections between propagating bands in periodic acoustic materials. The complex band structures obtained by solving for the k(ω) problem reveal a complete interpretation of the propagation properties of these systems. The prediction of evanescent modes, nonpredicted by classical ω (k) methods, is of interest for the understanding of these propagation properties. Complex band structures provide an interpretation of the evanescent coupling and the level repulsion states showing the possibility of controlling evanescent waves in periodic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex band structures and multiple scattering theory have been used in this paper to analyze the overlapping of the evanescent waves localized in point defects in sonic crystals (SCs). The extended plane wave expansion (EPWE) with supercell approximation gives the imaginary part of the Bloch vectors that produces the decay of the localized modes inside the periodic system. Double cavities can present a coupling between the evanescent modes localized in the defect, showing a symmetric or antisymmetric mode. When point defects are close, the complex band structures reveal a splitting of the frequencies of the localized modes. Both the real part and the imaginary values of k of the localized modes in the cavities present different values for each localized mode, which gives different properties for each mode. The novel measurements, in very good agreement with analytical data, show experimental evidence of the symmetric and antisymmetric localized modes for a double-point defect in SCs. The investigation of the localization phenomena and the coupling between defects in periodic systems has fundamental importance in both pure and applied physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exhaustive study has been made into the potential improvement in attenuation and focusing of phononic crystal arrays resulting from the deliberate creation of vacancies. Use is made of a stochastic search algorithm based on evolutionary algorithms called the epsilon variable multi-objective genetic algorithm which, in conjunction with the application of multiple scattering theory, enables the design of devices for effectively controlling sound waves. Several parameters are analyzed, including the symmetries used in the distribution of holes and the optimum number of holes. The validity and utility of the general rules obtained have been confirmed experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenomenological model that simulates the acoustic attenuation behavior of sonic crystals is developed in this paper. The input of the model is a set of parameters that characterizes each experimental setup, and the output is a simulation of the associated attenuation spectrum. The model consists of a combination of a multiresolution analysis based on wavelet functions and a set of artificial neural networks. An optimized coupling of these tools allows us to drastically reduce the experimental data needed, and to obtain a fast computational model that can be used for technological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show both experimentally and theoretically the evanescent behavior of modes in the band gap of finite phononic crystal (PC). Based on experimental and numerical data we obtain the imaginary part of the wave vector in good agreement with the complex band structures obtained by the extended plane wave expansion. The calculated and measured acoustic field of a localized mode out of the point defect inside the PC presents also evanescent behavior. The correct understanding of evanescent modes is fundamental for designing narrow filters and waveguides based on PCs with defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improvement in the attenuation capabilities of acoustic metamaterials by means of the creation of defects is considered here as a multiobjective optimization problem. From this point of view, it is possible to define the optimum strategy in the creation of defects to achieve an important increase in acoustic attenuation in a predetermined range of frequencies. A powerful multiobjective optimization algorithm called evMOGA has been used to solve this problem. The study has been restricted to the case of a two-dimensional sonic crystal formed by rigid cylinders in air, the defects being vacancies in the initial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonic crystals are periodic structures that have acoustic band gaps centred at frequencies depending on the lattice constant of the array and on the direction of the incident acoustic wave. To eliminate this dependence, this work presents designed mixed structures constructed with rigid scatterers and resonators embedded in air. Specifically, balloons filled with a blend of air and helium were used as resonators, showing experimental evidence about the resonant behavior of an array formed with these balloons. As a result, the authors obtain full band gaps in a predetermined range of frequencies desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]