MUFFLER BASICS

Definition: A device for reducing sound in pipe or duct systems.

Classification

Active

Reactive (reflective) Resonators

Dissipative

Active

Area change

Porous Flow material constriction

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Measures of damping

Incident Sound power

Transmitted Sound power

A number of measures exist. The most common are: - Transmission Loss (TL)

W TL = 10 log10 in Wtr

where a reflection free termination is assumed. The TL only depends on the property of the muffler and is independent of the source.
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- Insertion Loss (IL)

Wref IL = 10 log10 W muffler

For a given source the transmitted sound power (W) is measured downstream for a reference system (e.g. a straight pipe) and with a muffler system. This measure will in particular for low frequencies (plane waves) depend on the properties of the entire system (source + pipe lengths + muffler).
2 p RMS ,before - Noise Reduction (NR) NR = 10 log 10 2 p RMS , after

Here the sound pressure is measured in a cross-section before and after the muffler. This measure depends on the muffler + the termination.
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Reactive mufflers
Application: Effective for tones in the low frequency range (plane waves). Area change:
TL(dB)

c/4L 3c/4L 5c/4L

f [Hz]

Note the position of the maxima depends on the temperature since c = c0 T T0 , where T is the temperature in K.
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Reactive mufflers...
Resonators: A reflection factor close to -1 is created when the input impedance (Zin) is zero (resonance condition).
TL[dB]
Zin

pin 0 when Z in 0
fr

f [Hz]

Reactive mufflers...
TL[dB]
Zin

The Helmholtz-resonator

f [Hz]

fr

L
Zin

TL[dB]

c/4L
The Quarter wave resonator

3c/4L

5c/4L

f [Hz]

Dissipative mufflers
Application: Effective for broad-band sounds. The standard types are based on porous materials and are mainly efficient at mid- or high frequencies.
Based on porous mtrl.
Increased length and thickness gives increased damping TL[dB]

f [Hz]

Plane wave range

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Dissipative mufflers
Based on flow constrictions Typically realised via perforated pipes or plates with through flow. Can give damping also at low frequencies
Increasing with flow speed TL[dB]

f [Hz]

Example: Combined reactive-dissipative car muffler

3 7

5 6

01

2 02 32

3 03 33

04

25 24

24 23 40

23 22 39

22 21 38

21 20

20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16

34 16 15

15 14

14 13 37

13 12 36

12 11 35

11 10

10 09

9 08

8 07

7 06

6 05

31 32 31

30 30

29 29

28 28

27 27

26 26

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Measured and simulated TL in the plane wave range (SIDLAB)

60 Measurements Simulations 50

60 Measurements =0 =1 =2

50

Transmission loss, dB

40

Transmission loss, dB
0 100 200 300 Frequency, Hz 400 500 600

40

30

30

20

20

10

10

100

200

300 Frequency, Hz

400

500

600

Without flow

With flow M = 0.15

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Flow generated noise

Created at flow constrictions i.e. regions which create flow separation (turbulence) The sound power generated will limit the maximum damping that can be obtained by a muffler The sound power scales as W ~ U , where = 4-6. For dissipative mufflers (of porous type) it is also proportionell to the muffler length.

TL = 10 log10

Win = TL0 10 log10 (1 + W flow / Wtr ) Win + W flow

Wtr
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Structural by-pass and breakout breakin effects

Sound propagating in ducts and pipes create wall vibrations. These vibrations can propagate as structural waves across a muffler thereby creating an alternative transmission path for the acoustic energy. This is called structural by-pass and will limit the maximum damping. The wall vibrations can also radiate sound to the surrounding air (break-out). This energy can, if reflected from external boundaries, excite pipe wall vibrations after the muffler and induce acoustic waves (break-in). This type of phenomenon is particular important for rectangular pipe and duct sections.

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The plane wave range - 2-ports

pa qa a pb qb b pa pa qa qa T qb qb pb pb

Physical system

Equivalent circuits

pa pb = T q q a b
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2-ports in series and parallell

2
Ttot = Tm
m =1 M

2 1
M tot = M 1 + M 2

This configuration is best treated using the mobility matrix. Then the T-matrix can be calculated

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A single expansion chamber

1 A1 2 A2 3

L 1 2
Ttot = Tm
m =1 3

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Calculate TL using SIDLAB

TL = 10 log 10 1 Z1 (1 + M M +1 ) 2 tot tot tot tot T11 + T12 / Z M +1 + T21 Z1 + T22 Z1 / Z M +1 2 2 Z M +1 (1 + M 1 )

For a single expansion chamber:

TL = 10 log 10 1 + 1 ( m-1 /m ) 2 sin 2 kL , 4 m = A2 / A1
2

TL(dB)

c/4L

3c/4L 5c/4L

f [Hz]

Example: A1=0.0025 m2, A2=0.025 m2, L=1 m TLmax=14.1 dB.

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The first minimum can be eliminated by adding a /4 wave resonator

2 1
l= ? m

Ttot = Tm
m =1

2 1 3 4

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The first minimum can be eliminated by adding a /4 wave resonator

2 1
l= ? m

Ttot = Tm
m =1

Adding one more can eliminate the second minimum !

Representation as a cascade of 2-ports

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SIDLAB simulation.....

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