Intro to Lecture 01

Acoustics Prepared by:

Ar. JM de Olazo, M.Arch.

DISCLAIMER: The instructor doesn’t claim the ownership to any of the photos presented in this learning
material unless otherwise noted and were faithfully used for academic purposes only.
This week...
We will talk about

+ Why do spaces need good acoustics?

+ Fundamentals of Acoustics
+ Basic Theory of Sound (Overview)
Why do spaces need
good acoustics?
"
Sound
affects us physiologically,
psychologically, cognitively, and
behaviorally all the time. The
sound around us is affecting us
even though we’re not
conscious of it.”

Julian Treasure
Chairman of The Sound Agency

WATCH:
Reflection
Why is it important to study acoustics in
architecture?

Based on the TEDTalk, write down 3 learning

nuggets answering the question above.

Submit your reflections in our UE CANVAS under the

Quiz tab. (max of 300 words. Use the Filipino
language)
Fundamentals of
Acoustics
Acoustics
The study of how sounds are created, transmitted, and received; the branch of physics that
deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound waves.
Branch of
Acoustics
Architectural
Acoustics
 1
3 Main The control of sound break-in from external noise
Areas for sources;

Consideration
when designing 2
buildings for good
The control of sound transmission through a
acoustics:
building;

3
The acoustic quality of a room;
1
The control of sound break-in from
external noise sources;
1
The control of sound break-in from
external noise sources;
1
The control of sound break-in from
external noise sources;
2
The control of sound transmission
through a building;
2
The control of sound transmission
through a building;
2
The control of sound transmission
through a building;
3
The acoustic quality of a room;
Basic Theory
of Sound (Overview)
Sound
The sensation in the organs of hearing by mechanical radiant energy transmitted as
longitudinal pressure waves through the air or other medium.
How sound is created?
SOURC PATH RECEIVER
E
Speed of Sound!
331.29 metres (1,086.9 feet)/ second
for dry air at a temperature of 0 °C (32 °F)

As air temperature rises, sound eventually travels faster.

A roughly 12°C (20°F) increase in temperature would cause a 2% velocity increase in sound

1,439 metres (4,721 feet)/ second

speed of sound in liquid water at 8 °C (46 °F)

3,566.16 metres(11,700 feet)/ second

speed of sound in wood

5,486.4 metres(18,000 feet/ second

speed of sound in steel
How sound is created?
How sound is created?

AIR-BORNE SOUND STRUCTURE-BORNE SOUND

Sound traveling in waves from a Sound traveling in waves from a vibrating
vibrating source through the elastic source through an elastic medium of a
medium of air. building’s structure or the ground
 1
3
Sound level (or energy, strength, amplitude,
Characteristics loudness)
that Describe the
Physics of Sound
2
Frequency (or pitch, tone, wavelength)

3
Propagation (or path, elapsed time)
Sound Level

Measuring Sound Level

• Sound power (W) describes the strength at the source

• Sound power is measured at a source (piano, noisy air conditioner, human
voice), to quantify how much sound energy that source radiates
• W = sound power, measured in watts
Sound Level

Measuring Sound Level

• Sound intensity (I) or Sound pressure (P) describes the strength at the
receiver, accounting for distance, room surface sound absorption, room
geometry, and other environmental effects.

• I = sound intensity, measured as the source power divided by the area over
which the source energy has spread, expressed in the units watts/m2

• P = sound pressure measured as the amplitude of the sound wave, in the units
newtons/m2
Sound Level

Amplitude
is the relative strength of sound
waves (transmitted vibrations),
which we perceive as loudness or
volume. Amplitude is measured in
decibels (dB), which refer to the
sound pressure level or intensity.
Sound Level

Decibel (dB)
is the unit of measure used to relate sound intensity to Sound Intensity Level (SIL), and
sound pressure to Sound Pressure Level (SPL).

The unit Decibel (dB) as used both for SIL and SPL is established with reference to a
standard level, which is the minimum threshold of human hearing. For sound intensity, the
human ear has a threshold of 1.0 x 10.0-12 W/ m2 while 2.0 x 10.0-5 N/ m2 . Thus, they
are both equivalent to 0.00dB.

The word "bel" was used to honor Alexander Graham Bell while "deci" implies the logarithm
is to be multiplied by 10. Thus, 10 dB is equal to 1.00 Bel.
Sound Level

Decibel (dB)
 Sound Level
Decibel (dB)
Figure A Figure B

Sound intensity level (SIL) decreases at 6dB per doubling of distance.

Sound Level
Sound Level
Decibel Addition Method ?(for multiple sound sources)

80 dB + 70 dB ≠ 150 dB X

80 dB + 70 dB = 80 dB ✓
Sound Level
Decibel Addition Method ?(for multiple sound sources)

When two decibel values Add the ff to the

differ by: higher value:
0 or 1 3
2 or 3 2
4 to 8 1
9 or more 0
Sound Level
Decibel Addition Method ?(for multiple sound sources)

electric shaver vacuum cleaners vacuum cleaners

alarm clock washing
(62dB)
(60 dB) (79 dB) (79 dB) machine
(55 dB)
ALL in one room, all at once. Find the total sound level.
Sound Level
WM

WM
WM
 Frequency
sometimes referred to as pitch, is the number of times per second that a sound pressure wave repeats itself.

20 to 20,000 Hz
A normal healthy person is capable of hearing

infrasound
very low-frequency sounds below 20 Hz

ultrasound
frequency sounds above 20,000 Hz
 Sound Propagation
Sound, in a free-field condition, travels in spherical manner and coming out from its source at the center. The
mathematical formula of Inverse Square Law
Sound Intensity
I = P/A

I = Sound Intensity
P = Acoustic Power (in Watts)
A – Area (in m2 or cm2)

Inverse Square Law

2 2
I = P / 4πr or I = P / 4πd

I = Sound Intensity
P = Sound Power (in Watts)
2 2
4πr / 4πd = Surface Area of Sphere, w/ d as distance from sound source
Thank you.