ACOUSTICS

INTRODUCTION

Acoustics is the science of sound, which

deals with origin, propagation and auditory
sensation of sound, and also with design and
construction of different building units to set
optimum conditions for producing and
listening speech, music, etc.
SOUND
Sound is generating in the air when a
surface is vibrated

Waves of compression and rarefaction

Periodic, regular, and long continued sound

waves: Pleasing effect (musical sound)

Non periodic, irregular and of very short

duration: Displeasing effect (noise)
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND AUDIABLE
WAVES

1. Intensity and loudness

2. Frequency and pitch
3. Quality
 Intensity and loudness
Intensity of sound is defined as the amount or flow of
wave energy crossing per unit time through a unit area
taken perpendicular to the direction of propagation

Intensity (I) is proportional to square of the amplitude

of vibration of the point

I A2
Loudness is the degree of sensation depending upon
degree of sound

Loudness (L) proportional to log I; L log I

I= Intensity
Unit of intensity = Decibel (dB)
RATING OF INTENSITY OF SOUND
AS PER NBC
2. Frequency or pitch of sound

It is defined as the number of cycles which a

sounding body makes in each unit of time

Sensation of pitch depends upon the

frequency

Greater the frequency, higher the pitch

Range: 20 cycles to 1500 cycles per second

 3. QUALITY

It is that characteristics which enables us to

distinguish between two notes of same pitch
and loudness played on two different
instrument or produced by two different
voices
BEHAVIOUR OF SOUND IN
ENCLOSURES
When the sound waves strikes the surfaces of a room, three
things happen:

i. Reflection
ii. Absorption
iii. Transmission

The amount of sound reflected or absorbed

depends upon the surfaces, while the sound
transmitted outside the room depends upon sound
insulation properties of surfaces
1. REFLECTED SOUND

Sound waves get reflected from a large

uniform surface in the same manner as that
of light waves, the angle incident being
equal to angle of reflection.
SOME IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF
REFLECTION OF SOUND

1. Reflection of sound waves follow practically the

same laws as reflection of light (not be true in
some exceptional cases)

2. Reflected wave fronts from a flat surfaces also

spherical
3. Sound waves reflected at a convex surface are
magnified and are considerably bigger

They are attenuated and therefore weaker

Used to spread the sound wave throughout the room

4. The sound waves reflected at a concave surfaces
are considerably smaller

Most condensed and therefore amplified

Provided for the concentration of reflected waves at

certain points
DEFECT DUE TO RELECTED SOUND
Echoes
Reverberation

Echoes
Repetition of sound
Multiple echoes: reflected from a number of
reflecting surfaces
REVERBERATION
The sound persists even after the source of
sound has ceased. This persistence of sound is
called reverberation

It is due to multiple reflections in an enclosed

space

A certain amount of reverberation is desirable,

specially for giving richness to music, but too
much reverberation is undesirable

Time during which the sound persists is called

 It is the time taken by the reverberant sound to
decay to its one-millionth of the sound intensity
level existing at the time the source of sound
stopped

In other words, it is the period of time in seconds,

which is required for sound energy to decay or
diminish by 60dB after the sound has stopped
 SABINES FORMULA

t= t=

t= reverberation time in seconds

V= volume of the room in m 3
. = Absorption co-efficient of individual units
s1, s2, s3. = area of individual absorbing
surfaces
A= Total absorbing power
Reverberation time and acoustic quality (IS 2526: 1963)

Reverberation time in Acoustics

seconds
0.50 to 1.50 Excellent
1.50 to 2.00 Good
2.00 to 3.00 Fairly good
3.00 to 5.00 Bad
Above 5.00 Very bad
 TYPE OF BUILDING OPTIMUM REVERBERATION TIME
(SECONDS)
1. Cinema theatre 1.3
2. Churches 1.8 to 3
3. Law courts, committee rooms, 1 to 1.5
conference halls
4. Large halls 2 to 3
5. Music concert hall 1.6 to 2
6. Parliament house, assembly hall, 1 to 1.5
council chamber
7. Public lecture hall 1.5 to 2
2. ABSORPTION
When a sound wave strikes a surface, a part of its
energy is absorbed by friction

Sound generated in a hall is absorbed in four ways:

1. In the air
2. By the audience
3. In furniture and furnishing
4. At the boundary surfaces such as floors, ceilings, walls
etc.
 SOUND ABSORBING MATERIALS
Broadly classified as
a) Porous materials

b) Resonant panels

c) Cavity resonators

d) Composite types
a) Porous material
Absorption is mainly due to frictional losses which
occur when the sound waves cause to and fro
movement of the air contained in the material
Mainly in higher frequencies
Efficiency depends upon porosity, the resistance
to air flow through the material and thickness

Eg: rock wool, glass silk, wood wool, curtains and

other soft furnishing, drilled fibre boards and
acoustic plasters
b) Resonant panels
Absorb the sound by damping sympathetic
vibrations in the panels, caused by sound pressure
waves of appropriate frequency, by means of air
space behind the panel

Lower frequency
c) Cavity resonators
Container with small opening, and it functions by
resonance of air in it

Absorb sound of any frequency

d) Composite absorbers
Recently developed
Combining the function of all the above three
absorbents
Perforated panel over an air space containing
porous absorbent
Perforation in the panel should form atleast 10% of
the total area to allow the porous materials to
absorb sound at higher frequency
Following are the sound absorbing materials commonly
used
1. Acoustic plaster ( a plaster which includes granulated
insulation material with cement)
2. Compressed cane or wood fibre board, unperforated
and perforated
3. Wood particle board
4. Compressed wood wool
5. Mineral/ glass quilts and mats
6. Mineral / compressed glass wool tiles
7. Composite units of perforated hard board backed by
perforated fibreboard
8. Composite units of perforated board backed by mineral
or glass wool quilt or slab
9. Special absorbers constructed of hard board, teak ply
etc., backed by air
Requirement of a good acoustic
material
It should have high coefficient of absorption
It should be efficient over a wide range of frequencies
It should be cheap and easily available
It should give pleasing appearance after fixing
It should be self supporting and should afford easy fixing
It should be fire resistant
It should have sufficient structural strength
It should be heat insulating and non-hygroscopic
It should be durable, and should not be liable to attack
by insects, termites etc.
 COMMON ACOUSTICAL DEFECTS
1. REVERBERATION
2. FORMATION OF ECHOES
3. SOUND FOCI
4. DEAD SPOTS
5. INSUFFICIENT LOUDNESS
6. EXTERIOR NOISE
1. Reverberation
The sound persists even after the source of sound has
ceased. This persistence of sound is called reverberation

As a result of improper absorption

Excessive reverberation is one of the most common

defect, with the result that sound one created prolongs
for a longer duration resulting in confusion with sound
created next
2. Echoes
Reflection of sound when surfaces are situated at a
distance greater than about 17m

Shape of room/ hall / auditorium is curved with smooth

character

Removed by
By selecting proper shape of the hall
Providing rough and porous interior surfaces to disperse energy of
echoes
3. Sound foci
Concave surface: concentration of reflected sound at
certain spots, creating a sound of large intensity

Removed by
Proper geometrical design of interior faces including ceiling
Providing highly absorbent materials on focusing areas
4. Dead spot

Outcome of the formation of sound foci

High concentration of reflected sound at sound foci,
these is deficiency of reflected sound at some other
points
Such points are called dead spots
Intensity is so low that is insufficient for hearing
Providing suitable diffusers to overcome this defect
5. Insufficient loudness
Due to lack of sound reflecting flat surface near the
sound source and excessive sound absorption treatment
in the hall

Defect can be removed by

providing hard reflecting surface near the source
Adjusting the absorption to get optimum reverberation
Length of hall is more, desirable to install loud speakers
6. External noises

External noise from vehicles, traffic engines, factories,

etc. may enter the hall either through opening or even
though wall or other structural element having improper
sound insulation

Proper sound insulation of exterior walls

Proper planning of hall with respect of its surrounding