DISCUSSION

Sound Absorption refers to the process by which a material, structure, or object takes in
sound energy when sound waves are encountered, as opposed to reflecting the energy. Part of
the absorbed energy is transformed into heat and part is transmitted through the absorbing
body. The energy transformed into heat is said to have been 'lost'.

When sound from a loudspeaker collides with the walls of a room part of the sound's
energy is reflected, part is transmitted, and part is absorbed into the walls. As the waves travel
through the wall they deform the material thereof (just like they deformed the air before). This
deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat,
resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity. Similar attenuation
mechanisms apply for the air and any other medium through which sound travels.

The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media
and is a function of frequency and the incident angle. Size and shape can influence the sound
wave's behavior if they interact with its wavelength, giving rise to wave phenomena such as
standing waves and diffraction. Acoustic absorption is of particular interest in soundproofing.
Soundproofing aims to absorb as much sound energy as possible converting it into heat or
transmitting it away from a certain location.

In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials like cloths serve as good acoustic insulators -
absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials such as metals reflect most.
How well a room absorbs sound is quantified by the effective absorption area of the walls, also
named total absorption area.
CONCLUSION:

After doing the experiment and some researches, I now conclude that every materials
that is being used in the experiment have their different effects in terms of sound absorption.
Also I learned that the frequency is one of the factor that is being used to measure the sounds
that is being generated in every materials that is being used. I observed that all of the materials
being used when they are being tested from the frequency of 125, 250 and 1000 Hz the sound
absorbed form higher to lower but when it reaches at a frequency of 2 KHz it goes up and lastly
when it reaches 5 KHz frequency it now goes down. And also based on our data gathered I can
say that the Acoustic Board is the best absorber among the other materials, next is the Thin glass.
Summarizing it all, I can say that every material has its capability in absorbing sounds.

GLOSSARY:

 Sound Absorption - the process by which a material, structure, or object takes in sound
energy when sound waves are encountered, as opposed to reflecting the energy.
 Sound Transmission Coefficient - The fraction of the sound energy incident on a structure
that is transmitted through it.
 Sound Reduction index - is used to measure the level of sound insulation provided by a
structure such as a wall, window, door, or ventilator. It is defined in the series of
international standards ISO 16283 (parts 1-3) and the older ISO 140 (parts 1-14), or the
regional or national variants on these standards.
REFERENCES:

 http://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/sound-insulation.htm
 https://www.sfu.ca/sonic-studio/handbook/Sound_Transmission_Coeffic.html
 http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/acoustic_IOI/101_7.htm
UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST-CALOOCAN
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ECE DEPARTMENT

SOUND ABSORPTION

EXPERIMENT NO. 3

Submitted by: VILLANUEVA, MARLON E.

Student no.: 20111100686
NEC 526 – 1EC
Date Performed: November 29, 2016
Date Submitted: December 6, 2016
Engr. Edelito A. Handig