A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals

Acoustic sensing technology has attracted significant attention across various fields, including mechanical fault early warning and wireless communication, due to its high information density and advantages in remote wireless applications. However, environmental noise reduces the signal-to-noise rat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yulin Ren, Guodong Hao, Xinsa Zhao, Jianning Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/216
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849341585332895744
author Yulin Ren
Guodong Hao
Xinsa Zhao
Jianning Han
author_facet Yulin Ren
Guodong Hao
Xinsa Zhao
Jianning Han
author_sort Yulin Ren
collection DOAJ
description Acoustic sensing technology has attracted significant attention across various fields, including mechanical fault early warning and wireless communication, due to its high information density and advantages in remote wireless applications. However, environmental noise reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in traditional acoustic systems. In response, this article proposes a novel Z-shaped channel gradient metamaterial (ZCGM) that leverages strong wave compression effects coupled with effective medium theory to detect weak signals in complex environments. The properties of the designed metamaterials were verified by theoretical derivation and finite element simulation of the model. Compared to conventional linear gradient acoustic metamaterials (GAMs), ZCGM demonstrates significantly superior performance in acoustic enhancement, with a lower capture frequency. Furthermore, the structure exhibits flexible tunability in its profile. In addition, the center frequency of each actual air gap is determined in this paper based on the swept frequency signal test. Based on this center frequency, a preset specific harmonic acoustic signal is used as an emission source to simulate the actual application scenario, and experiments are constructed and conducted to verify the performance of the designed metamaterials. The results consistently show that ZCGM has distinct advantages and promising application prospects in the detection, enhancement, and localization of weak acoustic signals.
format Article
id doaj-art-1e1999c35b0b4b7584a5f4d51a0ca9f8
institution Kabale University
issn 2073-4352
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Crystals
spelling doaj-art-1e1999c35b0b4b7584a5f4d51a0ca9f82025-08-20T03:43:36ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-02-0115321610.3390/cryst15030216A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic SignalsYulin Ren0Guodong Hao1Xinsa Zhao2Jianning Han3School of Information and Communication Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Information and Communication Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Information and Communication Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Physics and Information Engineering, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, ChinaAcoustic sensing technology has attracted significant attention across various fields, including mechanical fault early warning and wireless communication, due to its high information density and advantages in remote wireless applications. However, environmental noise reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in traditional acoustic systems. In response, this article proposes a novel Z-shaped channel gradient metamaterial (ZCGM) that leverages strong wave compression effects coupled with effective medium theory to detect weak signals in complex environments. The properties of the designed metamaterials were verified by theoretical derivation and finite element simulation of the model. Compared to conventional linear gradient acoustic metamaterials (GAMs), ZCGM demonstrates significantly superior performance in acoustic enhancement, with a lower capture frequency. Furthermore, the structure exhibits flexible tunability in its profile. In addition, the center frequency of each actual air gap is determined in this paper based on the swept frequency signal test. Based on this center frequency, a preset specific harmonic acoustic signal is used as an emission source to simulate the actual application scenario, and experiments are constructed and conducted to verify the performance of the designed metamaterials. The results consistently show that ZCGM has distinct advantages and promising application prospects in the detection, enhancement, and localization of weak acoustic signals.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/216acoustic metamaterialsacoustic sensoracoustic signal enhancementacoustic rainbow trapping
spellingShingle Yulin Ren
Guodong Hao
Xinsa Zhao
Jianning Han
A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
Crystals
acoustic metamaterials
acoustic sensor
acoustic signal enhancement
acoustic rainbow trapping
title A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
title_full A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
title_fullStr A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
title_full_unstemmed A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
title_short A Tunable Z-Shaped Channel Gradient Metamaterial for Enhanced Detection of Weak Acoustic Signals
title_sort tunable z shaped channel gradient metamaterial for enhanced detection of weak acoustic signals
topic acoustic metamaterials
acoustic sensor
acoustic signal enhancement
acoustic rainbow trapping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/216
work_keys_str_mv AT yulinren atunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT guodonghao atunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT xinsazhao atunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT jianninghan atunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT yulinren tunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT guodonghao tunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT xinsazhao tunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals
AT jianninghan tunablezshapedchannelgradientmetamaterialforenhanceddetectionofweakacousticsignals