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Definitions of ACOUSTICS:
1. branch of physics concerned with sound
2. deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound
Almost all acoustical situations are described in 3 parts (elements):
1. Sound Source ( e.g. human speech, HVAC equipment)
2. Transmission Path (e.g. air, earth, building materials)
3. Receiver (e.g. humans, animals, sensitive medical equipment)
ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS
1. technology of designing spaces, structures and mechanical systems to meet hearing needs
2. effect of building design on the control of sound in buildings
3 Aspects of Acoustical Design in Buildings
1. Planning to keep noise sources as far as possible from quiet area
2. Internal acoustics of rooms
3. Structural precautions to reduce noise penetrations
Essential Elements of Architectural Acoustics:
1. Room Acoustics the qualities or characteristics of a room, auditorium, or concert hall that determine the
audibility of speech or fidelity of musical sound in it
Cubic volume (and coupled spaces)
Shape and proportion (length-to-width, height-to-width)
Finishes (selection and placement)
Audience layout ( floor slope, speaker-to-listener distances)
Special treatment ( suspended reflectors, resonant absorbers, quadratic-residue diffusers)
2. Sound Isolation the use of building materials and construction assemblies designed to reduce the
transmission of airborne and structure-borne sound from one room to another or from the exterior to the
interior of a building (Sound Insulation)
Site noise characteristics (sound level, character, duration)
Outdoor barriers, nearby buildings, vegetation, and earth berms
Location of activities within buildings (zoning, buffer spaces)
Background noise criteria (HVAC system, electronic)
3. Mechanical system noise and vibrations
Equipment noise characteristics
Location of mechanical equipment
Vibration isolation ( springs, pads)
Air duct and pipe treatment ( linings, mufflers, laggings)
Background noise from air outlets (coordination with sound isolation)
4. Electronic sound systems
System compatibility with room acoustics
Loudspeaker selection, placement and orientation
System components and controls
Background masking (loudspeaker layout, sound spectra)
Definitions of SOUND 2
1. physical wave in an elastic medium, usually air
2. the sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by mechanical radiant energy transmitted as
longitudinal pressure waves through the air or other medium
3. a vibration in an elastic medium such as air, water, most building materials, and the earth
4. physically, sound is a rapid fluctuation of air pressure
Types of Sound
1. Wanted Sound (speech, music) heard properly
o considered desirable
o heard properly
2. Unwanted Sound (noise) annoyance
o annoyance
o not desired or objectionable
Characteristics of Sound
1. Audible
2. Inaudible
Basic Principles of Sound - understanding the characteristics of sound is essential in designing for good
acoustics)
1. Generation
o sound is generated when an object vibrates, causing the adjacent air to move, resulting in a series of
pressure waves radiating out from the moving object
o Wave a disturbance or oscillation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium or
space without advance by the points themselves, as in the transmission of sound or light
o Sound Wave a longitudinal pressure wave in air or an elastic medium esp. one producing an audible
sensation
2. Frequency
o the no. of times the cycle of compression and rarefaction of air occurs in a given unit of time (e.g. 1000
cycles in the period of 1 second = 1000 cps = 1000 Hertz)
o the no. of cycles per unit time of a wave or oscillation
o the no. of complete cycles per second (frequency of vibration)
o the rate of oscillation of molecules by sound (frequency of vibration) measured in cycles per second
(Hertz)
o Pitch frequency of sound vibration; the predominant frequency of a sound as perceived by the human
ear
o Vibration the back and forth motion of a complete cycle
o Cycle full circuit by a displaced particle
o Period the time required for one complete cycle
o 20 20,000 Hz approx. audio frequency range of human hearing;
o 600 40,000 Hz critical frequency for speech communication
o Tone composed of a fundamental frequency with multiples of the fundamental, called Harmonics
o Pure Tone sound composed only of 1 frequency
o Musical sounds are combination of many pure tones
o Frequency bands used to express division of sounds into sections (Octave bands are the most common)
o 9 Octave Bands 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz
3
3. Velocity
o varies according to the medium of transmission; approx. 1100 fps in air at normal temperature and
pressure
4. Wavelength
o Distance between similar points on successive waves; the distance the sound travels in one cycle
o Relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity:
= c/f
= wavelength, ft.2
c = velocity of sound, fps
f = frequency of sound, Hz (cps)
o Low frequency sounds: characterized by long wavelengths
o High frequency sounds: characterized by short wavelengths
o Sounds with wavelengths ranging from 50 can be heard by humans
5. Magnitude
o Sound power (watts) amount of energy produced by a source
o Intensity describes the energy level; unit is watts/cm2
o Loudness (what is perceived) related to the Intensity Level (IL) or Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
o The Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is equivalent to the Sound Intensity Level (IL)
o Intensity Level is expressed in decibels
o Decibel dimensionless unit used to express the ratio of two numerical values of a logarithmic scale
Many products are prefabricated for sound absorbing treatment (suspended ceilings/wall mounted
treatments
3 kinds of custom-designed treatments that are often used in auditoriums/churches (the deep air space
insures adequate low frequency performance
Noise levels in a room are highest for a given source if the rooms surfaces are primarily sound reflecting;
lowest if there are large areas of sound absorbing materials (e.g. sound absorbing ceilings
3. Reflections
4. Reverberation