Abstract

This paper presents results attained in the NASA Langley Research Center test rigs using concepts for which the impedance varies over the surface of the liner. These liners are typically designed for significant sound absorption over a wide frequency range, but it is also possible to tune the design to achieve increased absorption at selected frequencies. A brief review is provided regarding a number of variable-impedance concepts. The first is a modified version of a conventional two-layer liner, in which the embedded septum location and acoustic properties are different for adjacent core chambers. Two concepts employ core chambers with different lengths, one with bent chambers to allow packaging within a limited volume, and the other with shared inlet ports to reduce the surface porosity. The last employs a perforated facesheet in which the hole diameter and porosity are varied over the surface of the liner. Data acquired in the NASA normal incidence and grazing flow impedance tubes are used to demonstrate the capabilities of these concepts. Impedance prediction models are also presented for comparison with these measured data.