3D printed metamaterials to control sounds and vibrations

A team of researchers from Viterbi University in Los Angeles has found a new way to control sound and vibrations through 3D printing. The team has developed 3D printed metamaterials that are able to block sound waves and mechanical vibrations at a distance using the magnetic field.

Research on 3D printing materials is accelerating with specific goals: to create something lightweight, create a solid structure or increase the speed of the printing process. This time, we are interested in metamaterials, an artificial composite material that has electromagnetic properties that are not found in any natural material. They are usually built in fixed geometries, which means that their properties are always stopped. A point that has been exceeded by this team of American researchers using 3D printing.

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Metamaterials controlled by the magnetic field

Led by Professor Qiming Wang, the team explains that their metamaterials have the ability to block sound waves and mechanical vibrations due to their reticular structure. It is also loaded with iron particles, which means that a magnetic field could be used to deform it, changing its properties. The magnetic field compresses the material, but unlike a physical contact force such as a metal plate, the material is not constrained. As such, when an acoustic or mechanical wave comes into contact with the material, it disturbs it, generating the unique properties that block the sound waves and the mechanical vibrations of certain frequencies. This can be useful for various applications such as noise suppression or vibration control, but also to create camouflage devices and more efficient communication systems.