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Traditional methods of noise reduction are based on inserting mass in front of source, a method which naturally reduces ventilation. As a potential solution to a shortage in products which effectively manages noise and ventilation across the UK, QinetiQ is using its pioneering research in innovative materials, such as acoustic metamaterials, to change this.

Acoustic metamaterials are an emerging technology which sees standard materials – like plastic, wood or metal – transformed and shaped through engineering to enable sound to go through them. Working like interference filters for light, the panels do not absorb or deflect sound but instead, cancel any noise. With the metamaterial shape obtained by carving out material, they are able to let though air and light.

QinetiQ and Metasonixx delivered design, manufacture and testing across a few weeks in an agile and rapid manner, working closely to investigate how novel technologies can be applied to real problems in a representative environment. Delivering experiments at QinetiQ’s metamaterials hub in Farnborough, both organisations tested different models of panels, with varying amounts of surface area allowing for airflow. Noise reductions of up to 90% were observed in this initial test. Further maturation and exploitation of technology in both civil and military applications is planned and being pursued collaboratively.