Session: 01-08-01: Passive, Semi-Active, and Active Noise and Vibration Control

Paper Number: 172973

Frequency-Multiplexed Acoustic Wave Control and Phase Engineering via Helical-Structured Metasurfaces 

Controlling the propagation of sound has long been a central goal in both science and engineering given its wide range of applications. To achieve this, metamaterials, artificially engineered materials with properties not found in nature, have been developed, enabling unprecedented control over wave behavior. In recent years, the two-dimensional alternative of metamaterials, i.e., metasurfaces have emerged as a new platform for wave manipulation. They typically exhibit subwavelength thickness, making them easier to manufacture and more versatile for acoustic wave manipulation. Recent advances in acoustic metasurfaces have demonstrated versatile control over wave propagation, by tailoring the local phase profile. However, most acoustic metasurfaces demonstrated are limited to a single functionality, making them unable to adapt to different scenarios. To address this limitation, frequency-multiplexed technologies have been introduced, enabling passive metasurfaces to support multiple operational frequencies within a single structure and allowing for function selection or switching. This greatly expands their potential in advanced acoustic systems. In this study, we propose helical structures to achieve multifunctional wave manipulation based on the frequency-multiplexed concept. For this purpose, four distinct unit cell designs with various high transmission bands in the target acoustic frequency range were developed and combined into a supercell. At each frequency, only one unit cell is actively working and the transmission through other unit cells is suppressed. These supercells were then arranged  to form a frequency-multiplexed metasurface capable of operating across the desired frequency band and delivering four distinct acoustic functionalities. Three-dimensional modeling was conducted by integrating SolidWorks with COMSOL Multiphysics, and the influence of key design parameters such as pitch, unit-cell length, number of helical blades, and blade thickness of the helical structures was systematically analyzed. In particular, the effects of the helical pitch and length on the metamaterial’s effective refractive index are discussed in detail. Additionally, the designed structure was fabricated using a 3D printer  and experimentally tested with a 2D scanning stage, allowing direct comparison between numerical simulations and measured results. In essence, this study paves the way for new research directions and a wide range of practical applications in acoustic engineering. By demonstrating multifunctional wave manipulation through a single frequency-multiplexed, helical-structured metasurface, the proposed design enables distinct functions at different frequencies, such as acoustic focusing, beam forming, and reflection. The multi-functionality could significantly enhance the performance of communication systems, noise control technologies, medical ultrasound devices, and smart audio equipment. Furthermore, the proposed structure can be adjusted conveniently to allow for other functionalities based on phase engineering, making it a good candidate for integration into acoustic sensing and wave-control systems.

Presenting Author: Ali Zabihi Rowan University

Presenting Author Biography: I am a Ph.D student in field of Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University since May 2022. I am researching in field of acoustics with concentration of Non-Destructive Testing and metasurfaces. In this respect, I would like to present one of my projects about frequency-multiplexed.

Authors:

Ali Zabihi Rowan University
Farhood Aghdasi Rowan University
Chadi Ellouzi Rowan University
Chen Shen Rowan University