Module1: Background of Acoustics Lecture_1

Definition of Architectural Acoustics

 

1. The science of sound phenomena in buildings, dealing with the production,

transmission, & absorption of sound in order to secure the distinct conditios in
every part of the room or building.

2. The science of sound and vibration which refers to stress fluctuations, as well
as waves in a material medium.

3. An environmental technology on sound & noise control in a man-made

surrounding conducive to a clear undertanding of speech, better appreciation of
music & minimal noise interference

4. It is the art & science of designing a room or building which ensures both
comfort & communication, and provide special features as the purpose, and use of
the structure requires.

Types of Acoustics
 

1. Psycho Acoustics- deals with the reaction of human beings to audible sound.

2. Environmental Acoustics- deals with the effects of the environment upon

audible waves, maybe broken down to architectural acoustics & landscape
acoustics.

3. Electro Acoustics – deals with the generation & detection of audible sound
waves.

4. Sonics – deals with the technical application of mechanical waves.

1.2 Components of Acoustics

 

Module1A : Components of Acoustics

(Sound)                                 Lecture_2
 

Definition of Sounds
 

1. Any vibratory motion of bodies, the transmission of these vibrations in a

medium, and the sensation produced on the human auditory mechanism.

2. An alteration in pressure (particle displacement in velocity) projected &

propagated in elastic material.

3. Form of energy propagated in waves which continue to subsist until filtered

through a material turning into heat by friction.

Sources of Sound
1. Speech – produced by the human voice.

2. Music- produced by an instrument.

3. Noise- produced by impact, by vibrating bodies, even by speech or music.

Types of Sound
1. Wanted – sound heard as perfectly as possible at the right level or loudness
without pain or strain.

2. Unwanted- sound which entails an annoyance factor.

Properties of Sound
1. Sound must always have a source, a path, and a receiver.

2. Speed – sound travels at 1130 feet per second, or 344 meters per second at
normal temperature (68 deg F); sound travels faster in denser media.
3. Intensity- rate at which sound energy is being transmitted, measured at any
point in the medium: intensity diminishes inversely as the the square of the
distance.

Decibel – the unit in which sound intensity is defined for architectural

purposes.

Decibel-meter- instrument by which sound intensity is measured.

4. Sound Pressure- the fluctuation in the atmospheric pressure caused by the

vibration of air particles due to a sound wave.

5. Loudness – subjective attribute of an auditory sensation in terms of which

sounds may be ordered on a scale of soft to loud.

6. Threshold of Audibility – minimum intensity that is capable of evoking an

auditory sensation in the ear.

7. Threshold of Pain – minimum sound pressure level which stimulates the ear to
a point which is painful.

8. Frequency – the number of displacements or oscillations that a particle

undergoes in one (1) second.

hertz- unit of frequency; numerically equal to cycles per second.

9. Pitch – the attribute of an auditory system which enables us to pinpoint sounds

on a scale extending from high to low frequency.

10. Tone – sound sensation having pitch.

11. Wavelength – the distance of sound wave travels during each complete cycle
of vibration measured in meters or feet.

12. Directionality of Sound Sources – sound sources radiates sound waves in all
directions; radiation pattern varies with the frequency; high frequency sounds are
more pronounced along the longitudinal axis of the sound source.

Natural Elements that Affect Sound

1. Temperature – particles of sound tend to follow cold air.
2. Clouds – if heavy, clouds can act as a reflecting surface.

3. Wind – may change the direction of sound.

4. Bodies of Water – can also act as a reflecting surface.

Characteristics of Sound

1. Sound Reflection – sound reflected off a surface, usually one which is hard,
rigid, and or flat. Image #soundreflection

2. Sound Absorption – sound waves absorbed into a material upon contact;

change of sound energy into some other form.

Sound Absorption Coefficient (a)- fraction of energy of the incident sound

absorbed by the surface; rates the efficiency of sound absorption of a material
at a specified frequency (0-1).

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) – arithmetic average of sound absorption

coefficients at the frequencies, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, expressed to the
nearest multiple of 0.05.

Surface Absorption – sound absorption of a surface obtained by multiplying

the area of the surface by its sound absorption coefficient.

Sabins – unit for surface absorption

1 person = 4 – 5 sabins

3. Sound Difusion – occurs when sound waves are dispersed equally in a room.

4. Sound Diffraction – acoustical phenomenon which causes sound waves to be

bent or scattered around such obstacles as corners, columns, walls, beams, etc.

5. Sound Refraction – change in sound wave direction as it moves from one

medium to another of different density.

6. Sound Transmission – sound which penetrates through a surface.

7. Reverberation – the prolongation of sound as a result of successive reflections

in an enclosed space after the source of sound is turned off.
 Reverberant – usual places which are large or have few people.

Reverberation Time (RT) - time for the sound pressure in a room to decrease
60db

after the sound is stopped.

Opt. RT = 0.3log (V/10)

RT = 0.16 V)/A (For Metric System)

0.05 V)/A ( For English System)

where V= room volume

A= total room absorption

Discrepancy = (100x (Opt.RT- RT)/ higher value between Opt.RT and RT

Note: maximum allowable discrepancy is 10%

1.3 Computation (Sound

Absorption and Noise Reduction)
Module 1B : Computation (Sound Absorption & Noise
Reduction) Lecture_3
 

Problem #1
1. A small room 10’ x 10’x 10’ has all walls and floor finished in exposed
concrete. The ceiling is completely covered and with absorbing spray-on material.
Sound absorption coefficient (a) are 0.02 for concrete and 0.75 for spray-on
material, both are 500 Hz.

1.1 Find the noise reduction (NR) in this room if sound absorbing panels are added to
2

adjacent walls. The sound absorption coefficient (a) is 0.85 for panels at 500 Hz.  
Solution:

1. Compute the surface area (S)

 

S conc = (10x10) + 4 (10x10) = 500 sq.ft.

S spray = 10x10 = 100 sq.ft.

2. Compute for the total room absorption (a1)

 

a1 = (500 x 0.02) + (100 x 0.75) = (10) + (75) = 85 sabins

3. Compute for the total room absorption (a2) with sound absorbing panels
covering 2 walls and spray-on material on ceiling.

a2 = (100 x 0.02) + [ (2 (100 x 0.02)) + (2 (100 x 0.85))] = (10) + [40+170] + (75)

a2 = 295 sabins

4. Compute for the noise reduction (NR)

 

NR = 10 log (a2 / a1 )

= 10 log (295 / 85)

= 5.40 db say 6 db

1.2 Find the noise reduction ( NR) if all 4 wall surfaces are treated with sound
absorbing panels and having a floor that is carpeted. The sound absorption coefficient
(a) of the carpet is 0.50 at 500 Hz.
Solution :
1. Compute for the total room absorption (a3) with sound absorbing panels on all
walls, spray-on material on ceiling, and carpet on the floor.

a3 = (100 x 0.50) + (400 x 0.85) + (100 x 0.75)

a3 = ( 50) + (340) + (75)

a3 = 465 sabins

2. Compute for the noise reduction (NR)

NR = 10log (a3 / a1) = 10 log (465/ 85) = 7.38 db say 8db

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Surfaces Treated (in addition to Room NR (@500hz)

ceiling)

2 walls 6 db

4 walls + floor 8 db

Sound Absorption Coefficients

Materials 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 Hz
Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz

Brick - Unglazed 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.07

Brick – Unglazed, 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03

Painted
Carpet – Heavy, on 0.02 0.06 0.14 0.37 0.60 0.65
Concrete

Carpet – Heavy, on 40 0.08 0.24 0.57 0.69 0.71 0.73

oz Hairfelt on Foam
Rubber on Concrete

Carpet – Heavy, with 0.08 0.27 0.39 0.34 0.48 0.63

Impermeable Latex
Backing on 40 oz.
Hairfelt on Foam Rubber
Concrete

Concrete Block – Light 0.36 0.44 0.31 0.29 0.39 0.25

Porous

Concrete Block - Dense, 0.10 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.09 0.08

Painted

Gypsum Board – 1/2”, 0.29 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.09

Nailed to 2x4, 16” on
center

Marble or Glazed Tile 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.10 0.02 0.02

Plaster – Gypsum, or 0.013 0.015 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

Lime, Smooth Finish on
Tile, or Brick

Plaster – Gypsum, or 0.14 0.10 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.03

Lime, Rough Finish on
Lath

Plaster – Gypsum, or 0.14 0.10 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.03

Lime, Smooth Finish on
Lath

Plywood Paneling – 3/8” 0.28 0.22 0.17 0.09 0.10 0.11

Thick

FABRICS 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 Hz

Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz

Light Velour – 10 oz/ 0.03 0.04 0.11 0.17 0.24 0.35

sqyd, Hung Straight, in
contact with Wall

Medium Velour – 14 0.07 0.31 0.49 0.75 0.70 0.60

oz/sqyd, draped to half
area

Heavy Velour – 18- 0.14 0.35 0.55 0.72 0.70 0.65

0z/sqyd, Draped to Half
Area

FLOORS 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 Hz

Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz

Concrete or Terrazzo 0.01 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.02

Linoleum – Asphalt, 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02

Rubber, or Cork Tile on
Concrete

Wood 0.15 0.11 0.10 0.07 0.06 0.07