Public Release: Topic 05: Sound Pressure Level and Decibel

Topic 05: Sound Pressure Level and Decibel
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COME 470 − Acoustics

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Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani

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SPL: Sound Pressure Level
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Lectures Schedule
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Topic Nb Topic
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Topic 00 Course Description and Regulations
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Topic 01 Introduction to Acoustics and Sound Waves
Topic 02 Fundamentals of Vibration
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Topic 03 Acoustic Wave Equation
Topic 04
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Plane and Spherical Waves
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Topic 05 Sound Pressure Level and Decibel
Topic 06 Loudness Reverberation Time Control of Interfering Noise
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Topic 07 Sound Absorption and Reflection

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Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 05: Sound Pressure Level & Decibel 2/43
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Outline of Topics
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1 SPL: Sound Pressure Level
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Decibels
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Sound Pressure Level
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Weighting Networks
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2 Ratios and Octaves
3 Sound in Free Field

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Sound Fields in Enclosed Spaces
Hemispherical Field
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4 Examples
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Current Section
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Decibels
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Weighting Networks
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Hemispherical Field
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4 Examples
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Introduction
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Levels in decibels make it easy to handle the extremely wide
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range of sensitivity in human hearing
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Ratios vs. Differences: doubling the intensity example
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Decibels
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The level in decibels of a power ratio:
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W1
L1 = 10log10 decibels
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W2
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applies equally to acoustic power, electric power, or any other
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kind of power
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Acoustic power is proportional to the square of the acoustic
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pressure, p, hence the power level is:
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2
p1 p1
Lp = 10log10 = 20log 10 decibels
p22 p2
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Decibels
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Sound pressure is usually the most accessible parameter to measure

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in acoustics
Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

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A sound-level meter is used to read a certain sound-pressure
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level using ratios:
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p1
20log10
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p2
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The reference p2 selected must be the same as that used by
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others, so that ready comparisons can be made worldwide
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For sound in air the standard reference pressure (p2 ) is 20µPa
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Ex: SPL = 82 dB:
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p1
82 = 20log10 → p1 = 251, 785µPa
20(µPa)
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

SPL: Sound Power Level
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

SPL: Sound Power Level
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Weighting Networks
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The frequency response of the human ear is not flat and it
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also varies considerably with listening level
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our hearing sensitivity particularly rolls off at low frequencies,
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and also at high frequencies
this roll-off is more pronounced at softer listening levels
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To emulate human hearing, sound level meters usually offer a
selection of weighting networks designated A, B, and C
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The networks reduce the measured sound-pressure level at low

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and high frequencies

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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Weighting Networks
Network A: for SPL of 20-55 dB, adequate for the
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measurement of background noise
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Network B: for SPL of 55-85 dB, adequate for musical
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listening purposes
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Network C: for SPL of 85-140 dB, used for high level noise
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Decibels
Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Weighting Networks
Examples

Weighting Networks
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The A weighting is more commonly used
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When a measurement is made with the A weighting, the value
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is designated as dBA
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dBA readings are usually lower than unweighted dB readings
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Since the A weighting is essentially flat above 1 kHz
any difference between a dBA and unweighted reading
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primarily shows differences in the low-frequency content of the
signal
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Current Section
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Decibels
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Weighting Networks
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Hemispherical Field
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4 Examples
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Ratios and Octaves
An octave is defined as a 2:1 ratio of two frequencies
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For example, middle C (C4) on the piano has a frequency
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close to 261 Hz. The next highest C (C5) has a frequency of
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about 522 Hz
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Ratios and Octaves
Definition:
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octave: frequency ratio 2:1
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fifth: frequency ratio 3:2
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fourth: frequency ratio 4:3
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As the ratio of 2:1 is defined as the octave, its mathematical
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expression is:
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f2
= 2n
f1ub
in which:
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f2 = the frequency of the upper edge of the octave interval

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f1 = the frequency of the lower edge of the octave interval

n = the number of octaves
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For 1 octave, n = 1 and the equation becomes f2 /f1 = 2,

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which is the definition of the octave

Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Ratios and Octaves
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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The low-frequency edge of a band is 20 Hz, what is the
high-frequency edge of a band 10 octaves wide?
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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If 446 Hz is the lower edge of a 1/3 octave band, what is the
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frequency of the upper edge?
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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What is the lower edge of a 1/3 octave band centered on
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1,000 Hz?
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
At what frequency is the lower edge of an octave band
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centered on 2,500 Hz? What is the upper edge?
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Ratios and Octaves Sound Fields in Enclosed Spaces
Sound in Free Field Hemispherical Field
Examples

Current Section
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Decibels
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Weighting Networks
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Hemispherical Field
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4 Examples
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Examples

Sound in Free Field
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Many practical acoustic problems are invariably associated
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with structures (building, rooms,..) and vehicles
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The acoustical problems can be very complex in a physical
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sense
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For example: a sound field might be compromised of
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thousands of reflections
The simplest way to consider sound is in a free field
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(predictable behavior) → then these basic characteristics can

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be adapted to more complex problems

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Examples

Sound in Free Field
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Free space means any air space in which sound acts as though
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it is in a theoretical free field
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In a free field sound travels in straight lines:
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unreflected, unabsorbed, undeflected, undiffracted,
unrefracted, undiffused, and not subjected to resonance effects
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An approximate free field can exist in anechoic chambers
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(sound absorbers)
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Examples

Sound Divergence
The same sound power flows out through the areas
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The total sound power is spread over increasingly greater areas
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→ The intensity decreases with distance due to geometric
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spreading of the sound energy (not lost)
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Examples

Sound Intensity in Free Field
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The intensity of a point-source sound in a free field is
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inversely proportional to the square of the distance r
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W
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I =
4πr 2
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With: W is the power of the source, 4πr 2 being the area of
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the sphere, r is the distance from source

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Examples

Sound Pressure in Free Field
The intensity of sound (power per unit area) is a difficult
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parameter to measure. However, sound pressure is easily
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measured
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Sound pressure is inversely proportional to the distance r :
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k
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P=
r
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where P is the sound pressure, k is a constant, r is the
distance from the source ub
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The sound attenuation formula is:
R2
SPL2 = SPL1 − 20 log
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R1
The inverse square law:
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SPL2 = SPL1 − 6.02 dB

Examples

Sound Divergence
When the distance from the source is doubled, the
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sound-pressure level decreases by 6 dB.
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Examples

Examples: Free-Field Sound Divergence
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Examples

Examples
When the sound-pressure level L1 at distance r1 from a point
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source is known, the sound pressure level L2 at another
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distance r2 can be calculated:
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r2
L2 = L1 − 20 log
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dB
r1
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For example, if a sound-pressure level of 80 dB is measured at
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10 ft, what is the level at 15 ft?
80 − 20 log
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15
= 80 − 3.5 = 76.5 dB
rP
10
This is only true for a free field in which sound diverges
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spherically
but this procedure may be helpful for rough estimates even
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under other conditions

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→ Awareness of this relationship...

Examples

Extreme cases:
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1 In free field: we can calculate sound level in terms of distance
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2 In a perfectly reverberant sound field: the sound level is equal
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everywhere in the sound field
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→ In practice, rooms yield a combination of these two
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extremes, with both direct sound and reflected sound
reflections from the enclosing surfaces affect the way sound
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level decreases with distance
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Examples

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Examples

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Near-field: close to the source, the sound-pressure level is
attenuated 6 dB for every doubling of distance
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Critical distance: the distance at which the direct
sound-pressure level is equal to the reverberant sound-pressure
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level
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Farther from the source, sound-pressure level becomes
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constant and depends on the amount of absorption in the
room → Far-field
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Examples

Approximated by placing a sound source such as a
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loudspeaker face-up, on a hard, reflective surface
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Can be used to measure the response of the loudspeaker
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In this case:
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the sound field radiates over a surface that is 2πr 2 in area
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the intensity varies as
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As in a spherical sound field, the sound-pressure level in a
hemispherical field attenuates by 6 dB for every doubling of
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distance
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However, in a hemispherical sound field, the level begins 3 dB

higher than in a spherical sound field
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Examples

Hemispherical sound propagation over the earth’s surface
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The reflective efficiency of the earth’s surface varies from
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place to place
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”6 dB per doubling distance” rule is only a rough
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approximation
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In practice, the difference will probably be closer to 4 dB than
6 dB. ub
For such outdoor measurements, the distance law must be
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taken at “4 or 5 dB per doubling distance.”

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General environmental noise can also influence the

measurement of specific sound sources
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Current Section
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Decibels
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Weighting Networks
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Hemispherical Field
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4 Examples
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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A loudspeaker of an input of 1 watt produces a SPL of 115
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dB at 1 meter. What is the SPL at 20 ft (6.1 meters)?
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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A loudspeaker of an input of 1 watt produces a SPL of 115
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dB at 1 meter. What is the SPL at 20 ft (6.1 meters)?
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SPL = 115 − 20 log(6.1/1)
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= 115 − 15.7
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= 99.3 dB
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The assumption made in the 20 log 6.1 factor is that the
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loudspeaker is operating in a free field and that the inverse
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square law is operating.

This is a reasonable assumption for a 20-foot distance if the
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loudspeaker is remote from reflecting surfaces

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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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An Electro-Voice ”constant directivity” horn Model HP9040 is
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rated at a sound pressure level of 115 dB on axis at 1 meter
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with 1 watt into 8 ohms.
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If the input were decreased from 1 watt to 0.22 watts, what
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would be the sound-pressure level at 1 meter distance?
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rP
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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An Electro-Voice ”constant directivity” horn Model HP9040 is
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rated at a sound pressure level of 115 dB on axis at 1 meter
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with 1 watt into 8 ohms.
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If the input were decreased from 1 watt to 0.22 watts, what
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would be the sound-pressure level at 1 meter distance?
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SPL = 115 − 10 log(0.22/1)
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= 115 − 6.6
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= 108.4 dB
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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A line amplifier (600 ohms in, 600 ohms out) has a gain of 37
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dB
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With an input of 0.2 volts, what is the output voltage?
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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A line amplifier (600 ohms in, 600 ohms out) has a gain of 37
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dB
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With an input of 0.2 volts, what is the output voltage?
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37 dB = 20 log(v /0.2)
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log (v /0.2) = 37/20 = 1.85
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v /0.2 = 101.85 =⇒ v = 14.16 V
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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Seat x in a concert hall is 84 feet from the tympani drums.
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The tympanist strikes a single note
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The sound-pressure level of the direct sound of the note at
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seat x is measured to be 55 dB
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The first reflection from the nearest sidewall arrives at seat x
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105 msec after the strike.
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A) How far does the reflection travel to reach seat x?
B) What is the SPL of the reflection at seat x, assuming perfect
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reflection at the wall?
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C) How long will the reflection be delayed after arrival of the

direct sound at seat x?
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Note: speed of sound in air = 1130 ft/sec

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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example: Combining Decibels
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In a warm studio a fan is brought in to augment the air
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conditioning (A/C) system
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If both the fan and the A/C are turned off, a very low noise
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level prevails, low enough to be neglected in the calculation
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If the A/C alone is running, the sound-pressure level at a
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given position is 55 dB. If the fan alone is running, the
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sound-pressure level is 60 dB. What will be the sound-pressure
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level if both are running at the same time?
If the combined level of two noise sources is 80 dB and the
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level with one of the sources turned off is 75 dB, what is the
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level of the remaining source?

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Ratios and Octaves
Sound in Free Field
Examples

Example
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55 60

Combined dB = 10 log 10 10 + 10 10
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= 61.19 dB
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Difference dB = 10 log 10 10 − 10 10

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= 78.3 dB
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Combining the 78.3 dB level with the 75 dB level gives the

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combined level of 80 dB.

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Topic 05: Sound Pressure Level and Decibel

COME 470 − Acoustics

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani

Topic 07 Sound Absorption and Reflection

3 Sound in Free Field

3 Sound in Free Field

Sound pressure is usually the most accessible parameter to measure

The networks reduce the measured sound-pressure level at low

and high frequencies

3 Sound in Free Field

An octave is defined as a 2:1 ratio of two frequencies

f2 = the frequency of the upper edge of the octave interval

f1 = the frequency of the lower edge of the octave interval

For 1 octave, n = 1 and the equation becomes f2 /f1 = 2,

which is the definition of the octave

At what frequency is the lower edge of an octave band

3 Sound in Free Field

(predictable behavior) → then these basic characteristics can

be adapted to more complex problems

the sphere, r is the distance from source

SPL2 = SPL1 − 6.02 dB

When the distance from the source is doubled, the

under other conditions

→ Awareness of this relationship...

Approximated by placing a sound source such as a

However, in a hemispherical sound field, the level begins 3 dB

taken at “4 or 5 dB per doubling distance.”

General environmental noise can also influence the

3 Sound in Free Field

square law is operating.

loudspeaker is remote from reflecting surfaces

C) How long will the reflection be delayed after arrival of the

Note: speed of sound in air = 1130 ft/sec

level of the remaining source?

Combining the 78.3 dB level with the 75 dB level gives the

combined level of 80 dB.

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