Tunable Acoustic Properties in Reconfigurable Kerf Structures

Abstract

Freeform structures are appealing in architecture owing to their ability to combine pleasing aesthetics and functionality. Regarding architectural functionality, freeform structures have the potential to meet desired acoustic requirements in indoor architecture through the proper design of materials and geometries. Kerfing is one of the practical methods to generate reconfigurable freeform structures from rigid planar construction materials. This study aims to explore tunable room acoustic characteristics through the use of kerf structures. In this study, we investigate acoustic responses of kerf structures made out of a medium density fiber board having a hexagon spiral kerf pattern with varying cut densities. Experiments are conducted to measure the acoustic properties (e.g., absorption coefficient) of the kerf unit cells with different cut densities. We then design kerf patterns using the parametric design method and explore the flexibility of kerf structures with different kerf cut densities. We model the kerf structures of varying kerf cut density and shape reconfigurations and use a ray-tracing simulation to study their impacts on the acoustic performance, i.e., reverberation times, of a small office space. Overall, this study leverages the unique attributes of kerf structures such as different cut densities and shape reconfigurations to tune the room acoustics in addition to their usage in indoor architectures due to their pleasing aesthetics. In modern society, people spend 90% of their time indoors. The indoor acoustic characteristics can greatly affect the occupants’ productivity, well-being, and health. Kerf structures present an opportunity to achieve both aesthetically pleasing characteristics and desired acoustic performance of regularly used indoor spaces, such as offices. The reconfigurable kerf structures can create an acoustic-comfort environment that can lower the ambient noise and tune the reverberation time. Kerf structures can be easily assembled by fabricating modular units to satisfy different aesthetic and functional demands.