Vacuum paneling to stop noise?

Ana · Post by **Ana** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 5:39 pm

I had this idea.. Since we all know that noise is vibrations in a conducting
matter and the basic idea behind every dampening material there is is
to either reflect this noise or convert it to some other form of energy
(heat for example, using friction). Would it be possible to effectively
combat noise by creating a set of panels with a complete vacuum inside
them, so that the air would not conduct the noise? I mean, like a side
door divided into compartments, that are then sucked airless? Anyone
know physics well enough to shoot this crazy idea down? The only thing
conducting noise then would be the joints of the panels enclosing the
computer, and those can be dampened quite effectively with, say, rubber?

Man that would be expensive to produce

Cob · Post by **Cob** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 5:58 pm

Why not do it with storm windows?
Same sort of idea with two panes of glass and a low pressure (I think) Argon gas inside.
Meant to insulate temperatures.

mpteach · Post by **mpteach** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 9:53 pm

HOw would you cool the computer? watercooling and an external radiator?

Gooserider · Post by **Gooserider** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:07 pm

It might work in theory, in practice it would probably be a bear to build and maintain the vacuum in. I suspect that unless you used really thick panels, you would have resonance problems - The vacuum would stress the panels making them into very effective diaphrams. I would be more inclined to look at making a panel with some kind of sound absorbing foam core as opposed to a vacuum.

Gooserider

mpteach · Post by **mpteach** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:18 pm

Elastically suspend a case inside a large concrete block, that should work, then watercoll the stupid thing.

Better yet place it in a local stream and it power it hydroelectrically

Post by **Rusty075** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:50 pm

More thoughts on "vacuum silencing" from an oldie-but-goodie thread: do hard drives work in a vacuum?