Simulation of Acoustic Properties of Plaster Matrix Composite MATERIAL Reinforced with Corn Stem Fibers

Environmental sustainability and environmental protection are key to shaping the built environment. The use of environmentally sustainable materials in architecture is essential to transform urban centers into modern, sustainable cities, reducing the pollution of air and natural ecosystems, lowering gas emissions, and improving the energy efficiency of structures. In this study, corn processing waste was used as a reinforcing material to create a plaster matrix composite material for use as a sound absorption material. Specimens of two thicknesses were created, and the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) was measured by applying the normal incidence technique. Subsequently, a simulation model for predicting SAC using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms was utilized to compare the absorption performance of the specimens. The fibers extracted from the corn stem significantly improved the sound absorption performance of the gypsum matrix specimens. This is due to the increase in the porosity of the material caused by the adhesion between the fiber and the plaster which creates air pockets due to the roughness of the fiber. The simulation model appears to be effective in predicting the absorption properties of the material, as indicated by the results.