4/30/2019 Abatement and Distance from Source

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Abatement and Distance from Source

The disruption of sound pressure waves and reduction of noise is called attenuation - Sound
Pressure Level Calculator
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The sound pressure from a source is reduced with distance from source.

Spherical Distance

Sound pressure in spherical distance from a noise source can be calculated as:

p2 = ρ c N / (4 π r2) (1)

where

p = sound pressure (Pa, N/m2)

ρ = density of air (kg/m3)

c = speed of sound (m/s)

N = sound power (W)

π = 3.14

r = distance from source (m)

Half Spherical Distance

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Sound pressure in half spherical distance from a source can be expressed as:

p2 = ρ c N / (4 π r2 / 2)

= 2 ρ c N / (4 π r2) (2)

A more generic expression for sound pressure in distance from source can be formulated to:

p2 = D ρ c N / (4 π r2) (3)

where

D= directivity coefficient (1 spherical, 2 half spherical)

The directivity coefficient depends on several parameters - the position and direction of the source, the room and
the surrounding area, etc.

The Sound Pressure Level - Lp - can be expressed logarithmic in decibels as:

Lp = 20 log (p / pref)

= 20 log ((D ρ c N / (4 π r2))1/2 / pref)

= 20 log (1 / r (D ρ c N / (4 π))1/2 / pref) (4)

where

Lp = sound pressure level (dB)

pref = 2 10-5 - reference sound pressure (Pa)

Note! - a doubling of the distance from a sound source - will reduce the sound pressure level - Lp - with 6 decibels .

Sound Pressure Level Calculator

1 ρ - air density (kg/m3)

331.2 c- sound velocity (m/s)

0.001 N- sound power (W)

1 r - distance from source (m)

1 D- directivity coefficient

Calculate!

Example - Sound Pressure from a Wood Planer

The sound power generated from a wood planer is estimated to 0.01 W. The sound pressure in distance 10 m from
the planner can be calculated as

Lp = 20 log ((D ρ c N / (4 π r2))1/2 / pref )

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4/30/2019 Abatement and Distance from Source

= 20 log (2 (1 kg/m3) (331.2 m/s) (0.01 W) / (4 π (10 m)2))1/2 / (2 10-5 Pa))

= 71 dB
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Related Topics
Acoustics - Room acoustics and acoustic properties - decibel A, B and C - Noise Rating (NR) curves, sound
transmission, sound pressure, sound intensity and sound attenuation

Related Documents
Directivity Coefficient and Sound Attenuation - Room attenuation depends on location of source and
receiver - and the room constant
Inverse Square Law - A doubling of the distance from a noise source will reduce the sound pressure level
with 6 decibel
Propagation of Sound Outdoors - Outdoor propagation of sound - distance and attenuation
Sound Intensity - Sound intensity is the acoustic power of sound per unit area
Sound Power - Sound Power Level from common sources like fans, jet engines, cars, humans and more ..
Speed of Sound Formulas - Calculation formulas for velocity of sound - sonic velocity - in gases, fluids or
solids
Voice Level at Distance - Required voice levels at distance

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