DATE : 14 / 01/ 20921

SPW - II / Unit - II
Acoustics :

Science of sound - deals with Origin , Propagation and

audibility sensation .
•Design and construction of buildings for producing
and listening sound , Speech , Music etc .
•Necessary for the proper functional design of theater
walls , Auditorium etc to exclude unwanted Sound .
Types :-
1) Airborne Sound
2) Impact Sound .

1) Air Borne Sound :-

Caused by vibrations which transmit through a medium
and reach the ear or detecting device .
Measured in loudness (decibels - Db) and frequency
(Hertz Hz)
Sound that is transmitted through the air .
2) Impact Sound :-
Structure borne sound that occurs when an object
impacts on another, results in the generation and
transmission of sound .
Vibration caused by the Impact results in sound
being radiated .

Defects of Sound:-
01 . Excessive Reverberation :-
•R .T . increases by the successive reflection of sound
•from its inner surface and volume .
•If the R .T . is less or more than O.R.T the hearing
condition gets adversely affected .
O.R.T . for
01 . Meditation , Library - 1.0 sec .
02 . Lecture Hall - 1.5 sec .
03 . Music Hall - 2.0 sec .

02 . Echo And Flutter :-

Echo :- Common Acoustic Defect .
•Caused by sound reflection from a surface , cause a
complete repetition of sound .
•Noticed when difference between direct path and
reflected path is more than 23 mts or time between
two is more than 1 /15 of a second .

Flutter:-
Rapid succession of echoes by the reflection of sound
waves from two parallel surfaces with sufficient time
between each reflection .

03 . Sound Foci or "Hot-Spots" :-

•Reflection of the same sound source meet at a
point , sound focus is formed .
•occurs - surfaces - Circular wall , Vaulted & domed
roof .
04 . Dead Spots :-
•There are some position in auditorium where sound
is scarcely audible .
•Occur due to some destructions or shape of wall .

05 . Resonance :-
In any interiors is not acceptable as if affects hearing
condition .

06 . Interference :-
Successive reflections of sound in an interior cause
confusion .
07 . Insufficient loudness :-
If sound volume is less than the volume of interior ,
Sound may not be heard , Improve by reflectors or
amplifiers .

08 . Creep :-
Successive reflections from curve surface are produced
and whispers are heard clearly at certain places ,
Source is near the curve surface , near the source
sound may not be heard clearly .
Materials :-
Absorptive , Refractive or Inviting depending upon
ability , activity in specific areas .

1. Porous Material :-
Absorb Sound mainly in high frequencies .
Efficiency depends mainly upon porosity / resistance
to air flow .

2. Resonant Panels :-
Absorb sound only at low frequencies .
3. Cavity Resonances :-
Container with a Small opening functions for
resonance of air in it . Absorb sound of any frequency .

Composite Absorption :-
Consists of perforated panels fixed over porous
absorbents .
The perforation in panels from all its sides .
10% of total area may be allowed to have sound
absorbing materials for high frequencies .
Sound Absorbing Materials :-

01. Acoustic plaster with plaster .

02. Compressed wood fiber board .
03. Wood particle board or wood .
04. Material / Glass wool , mats or fiber .
05. Composite Units of perforated board backed by
perforated fiber board .
06. Hard board , teak , ply etc backed by air.
Requirement of Good Acoustic Materials :-
* Shall have high co-efficient of absorption .
* Shall be effective over inside range of frequency .
* Shall be relatively cheap and easily available .
* Shall be aesthetically appealing .
•Shall be self supporting and shall afford easy fixing .

Insulating Materials :-
Wall Construction for Sound Insulation :
01. Rigid Homogenous Wall
02. Porous Partition Material
03. Double Wall Partition
04. Cavity Wall type Construction .
01 : Rigid Homogeneous Wall :
Insulation increases with wall Thickness – Construction
becomes highly uneconomical and Bulky .

02. Porous Partition Wall :

May be Rigid or Non Rigid type .

03. Double Wall Partition :

Plaster Board or Fiber Board on Lath or Lath brace
with absorbent blanket in between .
04. Cavity Wall Construction :
Gap between two walls that are filled with some
sound resilient materials .

Acoustical Materials :
•Fibrous , Porous , Low density materials - absorb
sound considerably .
* Coefficient of Absorption is high (move than 0.5)
•Have very good thermal Insulation property , light
reflection is poor , prepainted .
•Natural and Artificial absorbents - wood , cloth ,
gypsum , cork , glass wool .
•No Absorbing materials near the stage of an
auditorium .
•Absorbing Materials to be applied on surface beyond
23 mts - rear wall and furthest part of Side wall ,
Ceiling.
•Long Narrow Parallel walls which might produce
flutter .
•Mounting method - as per manufacture's
Instructions.
Classifications :
01. Pre-fabricated :
Ready made for example - Tiles , Boards , Slabs ,
Panels , Perforated plywood , Fabric etc . Apply
protective coatings .

02.Acoustical Plaster :
Surface finishing - Porous plaster of lime or gypsum
applied in two coats . Mix fibrous materials Absorption
Coefficient depends on
01. Thickness
02. Surface Finish
03. Surface Undulation ,
03. Soft Furnishing :
a . Curtains : Thick & hung with a gap of 150 mm

b . Cushion Seats :
Considerable Absorption in an Auditorium than
wooden or metal sheets .

c . Carpets :
Use extensively to absorb or diffuse , lay on hard
flooring .
04 . Resilient Blankets :
Fibrous in nature , available in rolls or pads .
Manufactured - Mineral wool , Glass fiber , Asbestos
Fibers , wood wool .Thickness - 10 mm to 100 mm .
Used as Internal layers - Increase Acoustical &
Thermal Insulation .
05 . Special Acoustical Arrangements :
Flexible or Fixed Sound
Absorbers - adjustable based on use and number of
persons .
* Suspended ceiling panels
* Adjustable wall , sliding , hinged , panels .
* Retractable Absorbing Panel
* Rotating Panel : Cylindrical absorbers.
Sound Proof Constructions :
To increase Insulation

01. Walls and Partitions :

Resilient blanket and air space between Masonry and
Timber Panels .

02. Floating Floors :

Isolation from structural floor for cut-off mechanical
impacts.
03. Floor finish and Covering :
Carpet over Timber / cork / rubber flooring.
04. Suspended Filling :
Air- tight , min 300 mm air gap .

05. Studio doors :

Must be Air tight

06. Double Windows :

Two glazing panels - air gap 25 mm , sealing all joints –
Sound Recording .

07. Ante Room or Sound lock room :

Lobbies between doors , sound absorbing materials
and staggered door locations – Auditorium .