Laser processing of composite materials for acoustic applications

The consistency of machined components in terms of their final material surfaces is a fundamental aspect of manufacturing. Laser-based non-contact sensors that use non-destructive speckle imaging are challenging the surface profilometry technique as an alternative method for the analysis of surface quality. This paper presents research into the importance of laser techniques in analyzing the surface roughness of composite materials used in the fabrication of acoustic panels. Roughness analyses performed by both the designed laser sensor and the surface profilometry technique were both found to be efficient; however, the speckle imaging method produces better results for most materials. Enhancements in surface roughness were measured and found to be 20% greater than those observed by the stylus method; in addition, the laser technique has low costs for commercial applications while being a scientific-concept-based analytical technique that uses a novel approach. The surface roughness was measured under different conditions by varying the speckle contrast using different positions and laser source orientations. The interactions between photons and phonons were analyzed in depth for a fabricated biomaterial-based-composite to assess its suitability for acoustic applications in different smart devices.