Acoustical and Physical Characterization of Posidonia Oceanica Fibres for Sound Absorbing Applications

This article presents an experimental investigation on the acoustical and physical characterization of loose fibers obtained from Aegagropiles of Posidonia Oceanica, commonly called Posidonia Balls. These aggregates of fibers are formed near the beaches following the action of the sea waves, which remove the leaves of the marine plant Posidonia Oceanica, typical of the Mediterranean sea. Egagropili are very common on beaches, and can be a renewable resource for making sound-absorbing panels with low environmental impact. The aim of this research is to experimentally characterize the acoustic behavior of loose fibers obtained from Aegagropiles collected on the beaches of southern Sardinia. The characteristics have been studied as a function of the apparent density of the fibers, in order to optimize their performance. The five physical parameters present in the Johnson-Champoux-Allard model were also evaluated to obtain an analytical model of the acoustic behavior of the Posidonia fiber panels as a function of density and thickness.