Design and Acoustic Performance Research of Underwater Acoustic Absorption Metamaterials

This study designs an underwater acoustic absorption metamaterial based on a multi-cavity diaphragm structure. The acoustic performance is carefully modeled and examined through simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software (v.6.1). First, a multilayer periodic unit model consisting of a main cavity and sub-cavities is constructed. A corresponding acoustic-structure coupled finite element model is established by incorporating diaphragm thickness and pre-tension parameters. The frequency domain analysis method is then employed to simulate sound wave transmission and resonance absorption within the structure, calculating the relationship between the acoustic absorption coefficient and frequency. Based on parametric sensitivity analysis, the study examines the influence of key parameters, including main cavity depth, slit width, sub-cavity depth, diaphragm thickness, and pre-tension, on acoustic absorption performance. The mechanisms by which these parameters regulate the absorption peak and bandwidth are revealed. The simulation results show that this metamaterial provides effective broadband acoustic absorption from 200 Hz up to 3000 Hz. The effective bandwidth with an absorption coefficient (α > 0.5) reaches 770 Hz, with a maximum absorption peak of 0.96 and an average absorption coefficient of 0.74, indicating excellent low-frequency underwater acoustic absorption capability. This study provides theoretical foundations and design guidelines for underwater noise control and related engineering applications.