Optimal Design of a Helmholtz Resonator With a Flexible End Plate

This paper describes a design process that produces a small volume Helmholtz resonator capable of achieving high transmission loss across a desired frequency range. A multiobjective optimization formulation was used to design a Helmholtz resonator with a flexible end plate. The optimization formulation generated a Pareto curve of design solutions that quantify the trade-off between the optimization goals: minimum resonator volume and maximum transmission loss across a specified frequency range. The optimization problem was formulated and solved in the following manner. First, a mathematical formulation for the transmission loss of the Helmholtz resonator with a flexible plate was completed based on the resonator design parameters. Then, the weighted transmission loss across a specified frequency range and a minimum resonator volume were defined as optimization objectives. Finally, the Pareto curve of optimum design solutions was calculated using a gradient-based approach via the ɛ-constraint method. The optimization results allow the designer to select resonator design parameters that meet the requirements for both transmission loss and resonator volume. To validate the optimization results, two optimal Helmholtz resonators were manufactured and experimentally confirmed.