Recent studies have highlighted an innovative way to produce highly porous materials based on cellulose fibers. These studies have focused on the foam-forming process, where the cellulose fibers and other components are mixed with foam. In the authors’ previous research, the foam-formed cellulose materials (FCM) were obtained by mixing a surfactant with cellulose fibers, taken from virgin pulp and recovered papers. In the present paper, the authors performed additional experimental and computational analyses in order to evaluate the sound insulation capabilities of these FCM beyond the initial impedance of tube investigations. The poroacoustics computational methodology parameters—i.e., airflow resistivity, porosity, tortuosity, viscous, and thermal characteristic lengths—were herein evaluated. This analysis was performed using both a theoretical/empirical approach from the specialized literature and an experimental investigation developed by the authors. The computational investigations were conducted in two stages: First, we evaluated the approximation of the experimentally gained normal incidence parameters, in terms of absorption and reflection, respectively, relative to the estimated ones. The second stage of analysis consists of a parametrical estimation of sound insulation characteristics concerning the incidence angle of sound hitting the porous layer. The results presented in this paper are in agreement with the computational experimental results, providing extended soundproof characteristics to the incidence angle of the acoustic field. Further, this study supplies additional information useful for future analyses regarding the influences of random geometry air inclusions into the FCM layer.

Lignocelluloses residues from the post-harvest crop are receiving great scientific attention nowadays. Generally, the composite materials based on lignocelluloses waste present low density and weight, and better insulation properties compared with those petroleum-based. This study presents the results of experimental investigations regarding soundproofing capabilities for a composite material based on expanded perlite (EP) and natural polymers matrix (starch) reinforced with rapeseed stalks waste. The preparation of light-weight samples of composites was performed at room temperature through a mechanical mixing process of EP with starch polymers and rapeseed residues until optimum moisture content composition was obtained. Rapeseed stalks long fibers were avoided through the preliminary dry grinding procedure, and the composite was air-dried at room temperature for 48 h. Four samples of composites with different ratio of EP and rapeseed waste were considered. The evaluation of sample sound insulation characteristics was performed using the transfer-matrix method based on a four-microphone acoustic impedance tube. The paper concludes that the proposed composite provides comparative sound insulation capabilities to actual materials, with few particular aspects presented within the paper. Thus, these new materials are promising as a viable alternative to the actual large-scale utilization solutions in soundproofing applications.

This paper deals with the theoretical aspects combined with experimental analysis regarding early damage identification in passive vibro-isolation devices. Basically, this research presents the relevant results obtained for a singular element. Rubber based on elements is discussed especially. This study was a naturally fall-back of the authors large analysis regarding the dynamic behaviour of the passive isolation devices against vibration, shocks and seismic waves. Main hypothesis supposed that on the exploitation time, all technical devices and systems acquire different levels of wearing because of the dynamic overloads and their derivative influences (aging, fatigue, energy dissipation, external heating or cooling, etc.). Hereby the performance characteristics changes and the system becomes working improperly. Numerical simulations were developed for simple spatial configuration of isolation device. Stochastic approach of essential results was briefly presented nearby the relevant results and discussions.

U izgradnji cesta, oprema za zbijanje poput valjka s jednostrukim ili tandemskim vibracionim valjkom koristi se i za tlo ili za smeše. U ovom je radu opisan numerički i dinamički model sistema valjak-tlo. Model uzima u obzir najvažnije parametre posebno za vibro valjak, odnosno za materijal ceste. Tlo se smatra elastičnim medijem. Program u Matlab / Simulink 7 razvijen je za rešavanje sistema diferencijalnih jednadžina koje opisuju kretanje vibracionog valjka. U radu su napravljene analize stabilnog kretanja valjka tokom procesa sabijanja pomoću povezanosti tehnoloških parametara mašine i parametara tla. Rezultati simulacije prikazani su u obliku dijagrama pomeranja i brzine vibracionog valjka.

This study deals with computational analysis of vibration isolators' behavior, using the fractional-order differential equations (FDE). Numerical investigations regarding the influences of α-fractional derivatives have been mainly focused on the dissipative component within the differential constitutive equation of rheological model. Two classical models were considered, Voigt-Kelvin and Van der Pol, in order to develop analyses both on linear and nonlinear formulations. The aim of this research is to evaluate the operational capability, provided by the α-fractional derivatives within the viscous component of certain rheological model, to enable an accurate response regarding the realistic behavior of elastomeric-based vibration isolators. The hysteretic response followed, which has to be able to assure the symmetry of dynamic evolution under external loads, and at the same time, properly providing dissipative and conservative characteristics in respect of the results of experimental investigations. Computational analysis was performed for different values of α-fractional order, also taking into account the integer value, in order to facilitate the comparison between the responses. The results have shown the serviceable capability of the α-fractional damping component to emulate, both a real dissipative behavior, and a virtual conservative characteristic, into a unitary way, only by tuning the α-order. At the same time, the fractional derivative models are able to preserve the symmetry of hysteretic behavior, comparatively, e.g., with rational-power nonlinear models. Thereby, the proposed models are accurately able to simulate specific behavioral aspects of rubber-like elastomers-based vibration isolators, to the experiments.