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ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS

ACOUSTICS: branch of physics concerned with sound deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound 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)

Definitions of SOUND
physical wave in an elastic medium, usually air the sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by mechanical radiant energy transmitted as longitudinal pressure waves through the air or other medium a vibration in an elastic medium such as air, water, most building materials, and the earth physically, sound is a rapid fluctuation of air pressure

ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS
technology of designing spaces, structures and mechanical systems to meet hearing needs 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

Types of Sound
Wanted Sound (speech, music) heard properly; considered desirable Unwanted Sound (noise) annoyance; not desired or objectionable Characteristics of Sound Audible Inaudible

TERMINOLOGIES
Generation - 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 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 Sound Wave a longitudinal pressure wave in air or an elastic medium esp. one producing an audible sensation

TERMINOLOGIES

Frequency 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) the no. of cycles per unit time of a wave or oscillation the no. of complete cycles per second (frequency of vibration) the rate of oscillation of molecules by sound (frequency of vibration) measured in cycles per second (Hertz) Pitch frequency of sound vibration; the predominant frequency of a sound as perceived by the human ear Vibration the back and forth motion of a complete cycle Cycle full circuit by a displaced particle Period the time required for one complete cycle

TERMINOLOGIES

Frequency 20 20,000 Hz approx. audio frequency range of human hearing; 600 40,000 Hz critical frequency for speech communication Tone composed of a fundamental frequency with multiples of the fundamental, called Harmonics Pure Tone sound composed only of 1 frequency Musical sounds are combination of many pure tones Frequency bands used to express division of sounds into sections (Octave bands are the most common) 9 Octave Bands 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz

TERMINOLOGIES Velocity varies according to the medium of transmission; approx. 1100 fps in air at normal temperature and pressure Wavelength Distance between similar points on successive waves; the distance the sound travels in one cycle Relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity: = c/f = wavelength, ft.2 c = velocity of sound, fps f = frequency of sound, Hz (cps) Low frequency sounds: characterized by long wavelengths High frequency sounds: characterized by short wavelengths Sounds with wavelengths ranging from 50 can be heard by humans, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz

TERMINOLOGIES

Magnitude Sound power (watts) amount of energy produced by a source Intensity describes the energy level; unit is watts/cm2 Loudness (what is perceived) related to the Intensity Level (IL) or Sound Pressure Level (SPL) The Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is equivalent to the Sound Intensity Level (IL) Intensity Level is expressed in decibels Decibel dimensionless unit used to express the ratio of two numerical values of a logarithmic scale

ROOM ACOUSTICS Sound Indoors Acoustics of Room


Sound Absorption - some absorb low frequency energy; some absorb high frequency energy Noise Reduction by Absorption
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

Reflections sound foci/diffused Reverberation prolongation of sound; persistence

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