Dual-actuator-type active noise control in vibro-acoustic systems with openings

Openings in plate structures are essential in various engineering applications, particularly in vibro-acoustic systems where airflow is required. This paper investigates noise control in vibro-acoustic systems with noise barriers incorporating structural openings, focusing on active noise control and Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC). It also introduces a novel approach, Dual-Actuator-Type Active Noise Control (DATANC), which combines loudspeakers and inertial actuators into the same barrier to address the challenges of noise reduction. A sound power estimation method is proposed to account for sound transmission through the opening and is integrated into an analytical model for optimizing actuator placement; predictions show strong agreement with observed behavior. Among the ASAC configurations, experimental analysis shows that actuators placed near the edge of the opening achieve the greatest noise reduction in the 100–200 Hz range, where acoustic leakage is dominant. DATANC consistently outperformed all single-actuator configurations, delivering superior attenuation of dominant vibro-acoustic resonances while maintaining reasonable computational complexity. The analysis is extended to a plate with a transparent lid over the opening to evaluate the contribution of acoustic leakage to the system performance. The findings of this study demonstrate that optimized actuator placement, combined with DATANC, provides a practical solution for noise control in systems where structural openings are required.