Utilization of Knowledge Based Utilities for Streamlining the Characterization Procedure of Acoustic Material Properties

Designers and analysts need to compare and conduct synthesis for selection of materials based on their properties involving simulation, optimization and correlation with test data. An example is that of acoustic material properties such as random and normal incidence sound absorption coefficient and sound transmission loss. The international test standards necessitate having standard operating procedures for characterization of these materials. This procedure is quite involved and addresses steps including test data acquisition, post processing, calculations, classification, report generation and most importantly, storage of such innumerable material properties in a structured manner to facilitate ease of retrieval and updating of properties. It is also highly desirable to have a synergy of the databank directly with simulation tools. Further, all of these steps need to be accurate, non-speculative and quick. In order to address all these diverse requirements, three cases of powerful knowledge based utilities are hereby presented. These have been developed by leveraging simple tools available right within MS Office Applications, thus making them highly scalable and cost effective. They effectively capture and integrate domain, individual and regulatory knowledge into mainstream organizational processes. Thus these tools augment and streamline product development workflows resulting in standardization, accuracy and productivity. Consequently they impart phenomenal benefits from a business perspective both to internal as well as external customers.