From Vietnamese Acoustic Knowledge to International Forums: DASM's Research Milestone in Acoustics Australia

A study with the participation of researchers from Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Institute of Acoustics Materials Application and Development and Le Quy Don Technical University has just been published in the peer-reviewed acoustics journal Acoustics Australia, published by Springer Nature and indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science – SCIE.

In science, a valuable work is created not only by the final result, but also by how a question is formed, a method is constructed, data is generated, and conclusions are verified. The research work "Experimental Study and Modeling of the Acoustic Performance of Coir Pith-Based Composite Panels" is such an example.

The research was conducted by three authors Tran Trung Duc, Nguyen Phuong Lam, and Trinh Van Hai, connecting different professional backgrounds: building materials, acoustic material research and application, and vehicle and energy engineering. Among them, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Lam is the representative of the Institute of Acoustics Materials Application and Development (DASM). This combination creates a work that not only has research value but also demonstrates a notable approach: bringing material and acoustic issues from practice into a systematic research process to produce results that can be exchanged at the international level.

A work formed from research cooperation

Behind a scientific paper is a collaborative process requiring the participation of multiple competencies. In this work, the roles of the authors are quite clearly demonstrated. Mr. Tran Duc Trung participated in project management, idea formation, methodology development, experimentation, analysis, and writing and finalizing the work. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Lam undertook data collection activities, research methodology, visualization, analysis, and paper content development. Mr. Trinh Van Hai participated in idea formation, methodology and model development, experimentation, analysis, as well as writing and editing.

These contributions show that this is not a study conducted by a single unit, but the result of coordination among researchers with complementary professional strengths. And it is this cooperation that creates the special value of the work.

From Agricultural By-Products to Acoustic Materials

The research focuses on a direction receiving increasing attention in materials science and acoustics: developing acoustic materials from naturally sourced raw materials and agricultural by-products.

Specifically, the research team developed porous composite panels using coir pith – the fine fiber obtained from coconut husks, combined with cement binder. By varying the mixing ratio and panel thickness, the research team investigated the ability to simultaneously adjust the sound absorption and sound insulation characteristics of the material.

The notable point lies not in an isolated figure, but in the broader conclusion of the research: the acoustic characteristics of the material can be actively adjusted through structure and compositional proportions, opening up the potential to develop material solutions suitable for various application requirements. The research simultaneously builds a predictive model based on artificial neural networks, thereby expanding the ability to use experimental data for the design and optimization of acoustic structures.

Thus, the work does not stop at manufacturing and testing a new type of material, but also connects materials – experimentation – modeling – prediction, forming a valuable approach for material acoustic research.

Milestone on the International Acoustics Forum

The work was published in Acoustics Australia with DOI 10.1007/s40857-026-00405-2, after being received on March 22, 2026 and accepted on July 13, 2026. Acoustics Australia is the professional journal of the Australian Acoustical Society, published and distributed internationally by Springer, serving as a venue for publishing research and professional works in the field of acoustics.

The fact that the work with the participation of a researcher from DASM was published in such an international professional journal holds significance beyond the scope of a single paper. It is a milestone regarding DASM's capability to participate in international research and academic exchange activities.

More notably, the research is not a mere copy or adoption of existing knowledge, but originates from a specific material issue, implemented through experimentation, analysis, and modeling to produce new results.

From readily available raw materials in Vietnamese practice, the research team posed a valuable scientific question and brought their results to an international acoustics forum.

DASM's Role in the Research Journey

For DASM, this milestone has special significance as it demonstrates the exact direction the Institute is gradually building: connecting scientific research with material and acoustic practice. DASM does not stand apart from research activities, but directly participates in the knowledge creation process through people, data, methods, and practical problems.

This work also shows an important development direction: acoustic research lies not only in the final measurement, but can begin from the material itself, its structure, and how they interact with sound.

When these results are verified and published, they become part of a broader knowledge flow – where researchers can continue to exchange, peer-review, and develop new research directions.

Not Just a Paper in an International Journal…

An international publication is not the final destination of research. The greater value lies in how it opens up subsequent questions: how to optimize material structures, enhance sound absorption efficiency, expand application capabilities, and move toward solutions with higher practical applicability.

For the three researchers Tran Trung Duc, Trinh Van Hai, and Nguyen Phuong Lam, the aforementioned work in Acoustics Australia is the result of a rigorous scientific collaboration process.

For DASM, this is an important milestone in the journey of building research capacity and connecting with the international acoustics community.

Starting from a problem regarding materials of natural origin, the research has opened up a larger story about the capability of generating knowledge from Vietnamese reality. From materials to acoustics. From experimentation to modeling. From research cooperation to international publication. And from Vietnam, acoustic research is gradually making its presence on the world scientific map.

View the full text of the research on Springer Nature here: Experimental Study and Modeling of the Acoustic Performance of Coir Pith-Based Composite Panels