Incubators in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are known to produce high Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) that can have detrimental effects on infants. Currently measured SPL in NICU's using traditional incubators are above the recommended 45 dB[A] threshold value [1]. Due to operating equipment and environmental noise, the sound level that is perceived by the developing newborn can cause both short and long term hearing loss as well as psychological damage [1].This thesis presents a study on how passive noise control devices can be used to reduce SPL levels in incubator NICU environments. A combination of experimental testing coupled with Finite Element simulations were performed for a modern incubator. In the experimental portion, porous mattresses were analyzed to reduce SPL values. These same test scenarios were modeled using the FE software. Using this model, extensive studies were performed on an arrangement of porous mattress materials with simple foam shapes to determine sound absorbing characteristics of several designs. Data was collected and studied at a NICU at Children\'s Hospital in Norfolk, Va. Experimental work showed improvement in reducing SPL with multiple thicknesses for different sound absorbing mattresses. The experimental outcomes validated the FE simulation model by showing similar trends at the baby\'s ears. In simulation work, polyimide foam had the best low frequency performance while polyurethane had the greatest performance in middle and high frequencies. Designs that used full-width foam treatments across the incubator produced the overall greatest reduction in noise around the baby control volume by approximately 26%. / Master of Science

This thesis describes methods of high frequency noise and vibrations computation of cabin part of EV–55M (aircraft developed by Evektor Kunovice). There is a brief summary of methods used for determining high frequency noise and vibrations in the first part of the thesis. Detailed explanation is given for Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) which is nowadays the most dominant method in this area. The energy balance equation is derived in this chapter and SEA parameters such as modal density, damping loss factor, coupling loss factor and power input are introduced here. Next part deals with main noise sources of propeller driven and jet aircraft and passive and active noise controls are discussed. Practical part of this thesis deals with modeling aircraft EV–55M fuselage using VA One SEA module. Two models were created. First of them is only an outside fuselage with aircraft flooring and the second one is extended by interior trim panels and is applicable for simulation of noise control treatments. Computational modeling is accompanied by experimental measurement of passive noise control material characteristics. Postprocessing of information obtained from impedance tube measurement was performed in FOAM – X. Determined characteristics of porous material were used as inputs to VA One and reduction of sound pressure level in fuselage cavities by using noise control treatment was found. In conclusion there is a summary of noise transmission paths from sources to interior cavity and some treatments of them are simulated