Synergistic use of inertial actuators for advanced noise control in transparent-patched vibrating plates

Transparent and lightweight structures are increasingly used in applications where visual access and weight reduction are critical, yet they offer poor acoustic insulation—particularly at low frequencies. This study introduces a novel Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) strategy for transparent-patched vibrating plates for advanced noise reduction. The system is experimentally tested under broadband excitation from 50 to 300 Hz, focusing on how the quantity and placement of inertial actuators affect system performance. To support optimal actuator configuration, this work introduces a novel analytical model that enables optimized actuator placement, incorporating structural dynamics and acoustic transmission loss through the transparent patch. Experimental results show that optimized single-actuator setups achieved up to a 5 dB reduction in resonance peaks, while well-positioned multi-actuator configurations yielded over 12 dB average sound power reduction in the considered frequency range and notable suppression of dominant resonances. However, the use of multiple actuators requires greater attention to spatial distribution, as poor placement can diminish their synergistic effect, increase control effort, and limit overall performance. This work introduces advanced methodologies in the application of Active Structural Acoustic Control for transparent-patched lightweight structures, providing new insights into how actuator configuration influences the acoustic performance.