RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

, INV}!;STIGATlON OF BElMHOITZ RESOUATORS

REPORT NO. B.041

Serial No. 1949/29
 J?B.rVATE Al;D COhFIDENT lA.I,

Research Department August, 1949

REPORT NO. B.041 . li'igs.liIos. B.041.1

Serial No. 1949729 to B.041.11

Htrum IGATIOh OF HELi:tIHOLTZ RESONATOPc~

.SilliIi!IARY

This report deals with a theoretical and experimental investi-

gation into the characteristics of Helmholtz resonators as sound
absorbers. Rschevkin and others have investigated the problem
theoretically, but the experimental details given are inadequate
for assessing the possible -use of such resonators 8S sound
absorbers in broadcasting studios.

The present investigation shows:-

(a) The frequenc~ . of maximulTi absOl'lJt ion can be accurately cal--

culated from the dimel'lsions of the resonator, and can be
varied within fairly vvide limits by simple means.

(b) Under favourable conditions absorpti,ons of 6cP/o and more can

be obtained aJG resonance. The absorption peal\: is normally
rather sharp, but can be broadened to some extent by Buitabl(3
design.

(c) The physical .size of the resonators can be less than that
usually associated with other types of absorbers working at
low frequencies.

(d) Under certain oondi tions Helmhol t-z resonators can be used. to
increase the reverberation time of a room in the region around
the resonance frequency.

It has to be borne in mind that some of the above advan·tages are

fJmtual1y exclusive, and that in use a oompromise may have to be
accepted.

1. Hi TRODUCTIOH

A HeJ~holtz resonator oonsists of a volume of air oontained in a

riGid vessel, oorrmunicatinG with the outer air by means of a oomparatively
narrow neck. The neck w~ be of any shape, but is usually oylindrical.

These resonators have been used in Scandinavia for many oenturies

for improving the acoustics of theatres and. churches, and more recently
in Denmark for broadcasting studios, but although the method of deri-
vation of the resonance frequency is well Imown, there is no accepted
theory of the effect produced on the aooustios of a room.
 - 2 -

The purpose of these experiments was to examine the behaviour of

such resonators in rooms and broadca.sting studios, and to establish
reliable means of predicting their effect. Recent papers on the sub-
ject, (see Bibliography i and Ui)" have been mainly theoretical with
l i ttle experimental backing, a,nd, are aonflicting in tbeir quanti ta tive
results.

In this report the theoretiaal information available ia summarised

before describing the experimental work, and finally the modifications
to the theory necessary in the light of' the experimental results are
disaussed. Experiments are limited to frequencies below 200 c/s since
sound Of higher frequencies is more easily absorbed by P01'OUS materials.

2. THEORY OF RESONAHOE

For purposes of calculation the volurne of air in the cavity of

the resonator is considered as an elastia body, while the mass of the
vi brating s;ystem is simply that of the air aolumn in the neck. (Refer
to Appendix or Bibliography ii.)
found to be :- _.
The resonance frequency is thus

;'K
.sL lrr!:' - 2i
C
l!' 0 h._
2t£ ",!dVo
...
iV; •• e ••• (l)

where Fo - resonance frequency

Cl - velocity of sound in air
d .... effecti vs length of neck::': length 'C' 1.7 x rad.iua
V~ .... volume of air in cavity
S '., area of aross section of neck S
K .. conductivity of the orifice, defined as d

3. THEORIES OF ABSORPTION

It is clear that under ideal conditions, (infinite rigidit;y of

container etc. ), absorption of energy can be conSidered to take place
entirely in the resistance at the neok. This resistance has two
components, the viscous resistanoe of the air in the neck, and the
radiation resistance, the latter being much the smaller oomponent in
the case of narrow' necks. The viscous resistance ie dependent on the
dimenSions of the neck and is influenced by the presence of resistive
material.

The effect produced by a number of such resonators in a room has

been approached from two different standpoints :-

3.1 First Approaoh (Rsohevkin, 1936)

The classical treatment of reverberation in a room, leading to

Sa'bine' 8 formula, is mod.ified to include the effect of the stored
 - 3 -

energy in the resonators and that of the loss of energy due to friction
in the neck.'

The normal Sabine formula for the untreated room in c.g.s. units :-

'1 ::: (0.162 x 10-2 ).f- •••••• (2 )

where V - volume of room

A _.. absorpt ion of room in Sabine s
T . reverberation time

is·modified and becomes

2 V -}- nV'
-- (0.162 x 10- ). A -I llAf
•••••• (3 i
at the resonance frequency, where n is the number of resonato1 s, and. At 1

and V' are terms involving the dimensions of the neck and its resistanae~

From (3) it is clear that the volume of the room is effectively

increased by an amount nV' due-to the presence of the resonators,and
hence V' can be called the "additional volume" introduced by a single
resonator. ~imilarly AI is the additional absorption.

Equation (3) also predicts that resonators in a room can act either
to increase or decrease the reverberation Ume of the room, depending on
the charaoteristics of the resonator and on those of the room (its volume
and total absorption). If the ratio of "additional volume" to absorption,
~. , for the resonators is greater than .the same quantity for the room,
. 1.e. if 1. 62 ~ lO--3.r; is more than Tl , the reverberation time will be
increased. It should be noted that this follows from the general argument :-

lot a :x: Then if a ::.~ fiX and b c': ny, m ) n

C ) y
Therefore
x
Y
-I. a
b
_. fr'- I j}~ .~
Xl -I y) Y
x

IncreaSing the resistance of the neck increases the absorbing power

of the resonators up to a point of maximum absorption, beyond whioh
increasing !lecIc resistanceresul ts· in a decrease of' absorption. This can
be represented as a minimum in the curve relating reverberation time with
neck reSistance, and the calculp..tecl curve for a special case is shown in
Fig. l(a).

3.2 Seoond Approach

. Al ternati vo13T the problem can be considered simpl;y as one of matohing

the impedance of' a banlz of resonators to a plane ;,v.ave. At the resonance
frequenoy the impedance is purely resistive, being the reSistance of the
,
 - 4 -

neolt, and this resistance appears to the air outside to be larger

than its actual value. This is because the velOCity in the neck is
higher than that in the air outside, so that a transforming aotion
takes place, the transformer ratio be ing the patio of tQtal neck
area to the total wall and necl{ area. The e1ffective impedance Z
for unit area of the resonator block is given by :-

z
, where A ... •effec ti ve \/ijall area surround.ing eaoh hole
S cross-sectional area of neck
R - resistance of neclc.
Maximum absorption of energy from a plane wave talws place when
the effective impedance is purely resistive and equal to the charac-
teristio impedance of the air. (42 c.g.s. unil;s or "aooustic ohms"
at 20 0 0.) For an offecti ve impedance Z per uni t area of resonator
block, the absorption coefficient ,X is shown in the Appendix to be 1-
~ :.: ---1.~
(42+Z)2
As with the first approach, it follows that there is a minilnum
value of reverberation time at one particular value of neck resis-
tance, but Fig_ l{b), which connects R with reverberation time,
shows ,that the optimum neck resistance is not critical. This
curve is plotted in terms of actual neck resistance to conform vvi th
1 (a), and the paint correspond.ing to a transformed impedanoe of 42
ohms is marlced. '

3.3 There are two important differenoes between these two methods
of approach ;-

(1) It will be noted on reference to Fig. 1 that, althongh both

theories indicate that there is a value of neck resistance
for which the reverberation time is a minimum, this optimum
value of resistance is \videly different in the ho cases.

(11) The first theory shO\'iis that under certain aond.itions (derJen-
ding upon the neck resistance and upon the original rever-
beration time of the untreated room) the roverberf.ltion time
will be increased. The "matching" theory dOGS not indioate
such a possibility, since it ignoros the exohange time for
energy stored in the resonator.

4. DESIGN OF RESONA.TORS A.IID MEAS1JREMEHTS

The theory outJ..ined in paragra.-ph 3 applies to a container of high

rigidity having tho orifice in a plane surface, and the resonators usod
 - 5 -

were designed to have these characteristics.

Six cylindrical tins of 2530 ccs ~ volume were set in concrete
in a,mould, each having an opening li" (3.8 cm.) long and l~-" diameter
on one side of the blocl;;:. Sixteen 1)f these blocks were made, providing
a total.of 96 resonators.

Equation (1) gives the frequency of each resonator as 140 c/s.

The resonance frequency could be varied by inserting bushes into the
necks. Two sets of bushes were made :-

(a) neck length l~J' (3.8 cm.), diameter 1", theqretical frequency 105 c/s.
(b 1 neolc length~' (1.59 cm. j, diameter i", theo!,otical frequency 75 c/a.

4.1 Preliminary absorption measurements were made in the small reverbf3rn-

tion chamber at Nightingale Square, but the performance of the resonators
was to a oertain extent rnaslmd by the characteristics of the room. If was
therefore decided that measurements on an individual resonator ahould be
used as a starting. point.

4.2 Qpen air measurements

The first step was to check that· the frequency agreed "=>ith that cal-
culated from theory. The arrangement originally used was as follows :-

A uni t of six resonators was placed on the ground in the oPen air
wi th the holes towards a loudspeaker suru{ into a hole about G ft. away.
~ Willan's microphone was plaoed with its probe direotly in front of one
of the holes, and tone was fed to the loudspeaker from a tone souroe fitted
with a motor drive oapable of varying the frequency at the rate of one
octave in about 3 milmtes. The output of the miorophone, suitably ampli-
fied, was fed to a Neumann high speed level reoorder, giving a preasurej
frequency record Similar to that shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that
the dotted curve has a double peak. This was found. to be due to~ coupling
between adjacent resonators in the block, and could be prevented by inser-
ting corks into the five remaining holes. The continuous gurve in Fig. 2
illustrates this condition •

.An unexpected feature of those records was the dip whioh invariably
foHowed the peak, making the exaot point of resonanoe difficult to
determine. A theoretical explanation (given in the Appendix 1 indicated
that the peak occurred at the resonance frequency and that the dip was
oontrolled by the Position of the probe. Further tests verified this
'theory.

In the arrangement eventually used the probe was sealed into a hole
in the baok of the resonator, giving a measurement of pressure aoross the
oapacitance, (see Ap~:?Gndix). This method produoed a simple resonance
ourve, examples of which can be seen in Fig. 3.
 - 6 -

At this junoture the apparatus was tra.nsferred from the open

air to an experimental studio with the loudspeaker 12" from the
orifice and the tone kept at a relatively low level. The arrange-
ment is J3hown in Fig. 9 • Results so obtained were .1del1tioal with
those obtained in the open air, indicating that the effects of the
room had b~en satisfactorily oliminated. .All subsequent measure-
ments wore made und.er room oondi tions.

4.3 Measurement of Resistance

As it was desired to reach optimum. conditions by varying tM

neck resistance artificially, it was necessary to obtain a measure"'!
ment of this resistance. The resonance curves provided a simple
method of mea.suring relative resistances b3T estimating the IIQII from
the shape of the curve and calculating l/Q. An absolute value of
resistance could also be found by mul tiplying l/Q by the calculated
mass reactance of the neck.

The absolute values of resistance for the three sizes of open

neck, while of the same order, were not identical with those given
by os.lcula,tion. Various materiD.ls were fix~d across the neoks of
the resonators to increase the resistance. It was found that the
proportional change in resistance on adding a material was approxi-
mately the same for all three sizes of neok. Experiments also
showed that to increase resistance without appreciably ohanging
the resonance frequency, 8 material having a high proportion of
air, space to fabrio was neoessary. Ordinary open-weave bandage
was an easily obtained material having the desired properties, and
was chosen for subsequent measurements; but oertain types of
Fibreglass or linen sorim would probably form a more sui table
treatment in practice. The results are shown in Table .I.

In this table the value of R is oalculated as indioated

above, while Z is calculated from R using the transformer ratio
and having first subtraoted the value for the radiation resistanoe
of the orifioe, where this is appreoiable. The last column is
included for comparison purposes and gives the value of R oomputed
for the open neck using the theoretical fornmla,

where r:::~ de ns i ty of air

tl -_. viscosity of air
ro . - radius of neck
 - 7 -

4.4 Reverberation Room Measurements

The measurements were marle in a reverberation ohamber, (G.ll,

Nightingale Square), having a volume of about 1000 ou.ft., and 14
uni ts vvere used. cor.taining 84 individual resonators or The same
disposi tion of uni t8 was maintained throughout the series. A con-
trol run was first talcen with the resonators in posi tion but vii th
the holes blooked with oorks, and any subsequent change in the
reverberation time \vas therefore due to the aotion of the resonators
themselves. The resistanoe of the resonators was gradually inoreasod
until the point of maximum absorption had been reached.

The results of the tests on the 140 c/s resonators are shown in
Fig. 4, It will be seen that, whereas there was negligible absorption
in the oase of the open neok, ono layer of bandage across the holes
produced a large l~Dk around the rosonanoe frequency. No further
tests wero carried out with this size of neok for the following
reasons a-

(a) The concrete neol{s were variable in size, so that the resonator
frequenoies differed. Wooden bushes could be made more
accurately.

(b) Resonators absol'bing at lower frequencies than 140 c/s Were

considered to have more practioal applioation.

The 75 c/s bushec were therefore fitted for subsequent absorp-

tion measurements made with the' necks empty, with a wad of bandage
inserted, and i~i th one and 1;'1",,0 la.yers of bandage across the orifice.
The curves so obtained are shown in Fig. 5 and the effect on the
reverberation time of the room is given in Fig. 6.

The reverberation ourves, Fig. 6, show that the empty room

unfortunately possessed a pronounced pealcat 75 c/s, which, although
useful for demonstrating the action of the resonator,g,made accurate
meaBurements inth18 region difficult.

Ir. dealing wi th the wads of bandage it was found to be virtually

impossible to obtain absolute consistency of arrangement in individual
neoks. This probably aocounts for the pronounced drop in absorption
when using this partioular arrangement of the material. The ind.i-
cations were that the menu resistance of the 84 resonators' was con-
siderably higher than that of the sample used for resistance measure-
tnent. For this reason the measurements were repeated using a type of
glass wool fabrio, whioh gave a similar value' of resistance.

The values of the reverberation time at resonanoe have been

plotted on Fig. 1 for comparison with the theoretical values.
 -8-

4.5 Studio Measurementa

The abnormal oondi tions of the reverberation r.oom were ideal for
the foregoing measuremellts, but it was obviously desirable to oarry
out tes·ts under more usu4l working oondi Hons, namely, those existing
in rooms already possessing oonsid.erable absorption, keeping in mind
the possibility of colouration. Tests were therefore made in tviO
rooms of this kind.

Listening :!ioom at lUghtihgale Square

This room has· a: volume of 2850 cu.ft. and is furnished in the

style of an ordinary living room. The reverberation time is of
the order of 0.6 seoonds. Reverberation time measurements 'were
oarried out under five conditions ;-

(a. ) wi th resonators in the room but with the holes corlced

{b 1 with e4 - 75' o/s resonators - open holes
(0 ) wi th 84 - 75 0/8 resonators wi th two layers of bandage
(matohed oondition)
(d) wi th 84 - 75 c/s resonators wi th bandage in the neok
("overmatohed" condition)
(e) with 84 - 140 0/8 resonators - open holes.

The reverberation ourves are shown in Fig. 7 and it will be

seen that the expeoted absorption took plaoe at about 75 o/s.
The number of miorophone positions used for these measurements was
insufficient to give accurate figupes, but the effect of the
resonators . .~as nevertheless quite apparent. In the case of the
140 o/s resonators, a1 though there wa.s a decrea.se in reverberation
'time in that region, the effect vvas so small as to be oonsid.ered
insignifioant. A sp~ech test and record.ing was made under ea.ch
of these conditions. Ho co1ouration vvas detectable, either in the
speech test or in any of the recordings, possibly because the
reverbera tion time of the room was lal'ge compared. with the decay
times of the resonators.

Exper~ents in Studio 3G, Broadcasting House

A Similar series Of tests was carried out in Studio 3G

whioh has a reverberation time of the order of 0.3 seaonds.
The 75 c/s resonators produced a negligible effect on the
l'everberation time, as '\I"ias to be el.."Pected vii th such a small
area in a room containing so much absorption. The 140 c/a
resonators wi th open necIes, however, produced a pronounced
increase of reverberation time around that frequency (Fig. 8 l.
The records from the high speed level recorder were perfectly
normal in all cases, there ·being no sign of a change of slope
 - 9 -

at the end of thedeoay curve. In spite of this increase of time

around ,the res'onance frequency, no colouration was detectable in any
of the recordings, an effect for which no explanation can be give~ at
present .. '

The studio was also pulsed with the 140 c/s resonators in position
and,althbugh it was characterised by a ring at this, frequency, there
was, contrary to expectation, no audible excitntion of the resonators
by freque·ncies closely spaced on either side"

5. :QISOUSSION OF RESULTS

A oomparison between the experimental points of Fig. 1 and the

two theoretical curves 1 (a) and 1 (b) makes it clear that the e~"Perimental
evidence favours the second theoretical approach (Section 3.2), since the
maXimmu absorption takes place when the effective impedance of the resona-
tors is about equal to 42 acoustic ohms. Moreover, the optimum value of
reSistance is clearly not critical, fairly large resistance changes
produciug barely measurable changes in reverberation time,a result in
gBneral accord with theOl Y.
1
The tests were repeated at different times.
and al though thoro were slight vaxiations in the actual values of abso2'p-
tion, the rosul ts were consistent in indicating an optimum at 40 - 50 ohms.

5.1 The magnitude of the absorption Goefficient is in less satisfactory

alS"I'eement however, since it does not rise higher than 631? by the
Millington formula. This formula has been used in the Oorporation
'for many ;years now and has proved satisfactory in most cases, but an
inherent disadvantage is tha,t it breaks down' for absorbents giving
values near unHy, because here - log (1 - Cl} beoomes infinite and,
avena square . inch of a perfect {:lOsorber would be axpeCiiBd to reduce
the reverberation time to zero. It has been observed 011 many oMasiona
re0ently that both resonant anq. porous absorbers under carefully matohed
oondi tions give a maximmn absorption of about 60c{0 by Millington' a
formula, corresponding to nearly 100% by Sabine I s formula, and it ia
evident tllat alternative methode of oaloulation should be d.eveloped for
very efficient absorbers,

5.2 The tests in Studio 3Gshmved, however, that the simple matching
theory of :paragraph 3.2 is inadequate since it does not account for
the increase of reverberation time observed under certain oonditions.
This effect, previously noted by Rschevkin, was confirmed in Studio
3G, where the reverberation time was short enough to give prominence
to the effect. A modification to the simple theory was therefore
proposed, using the "matching" theory but taking into' acoount also
the energy which is stored in the resonators. It is assumed that
when the sound is cut off, the energy accumulating intbe resonator
during the steady state condition is given back to the room, and that
the room and resonator act -as one system, the total energy at any
 - 10 -

instant being the sum of energy in the room and that in the resonators.
This modified theory shows the possibility of an inorease of revel' ..
beration time for low neCk resistance, the volume of the room being
effectively increased by an amount proportional to the square of the
HQ" of the resonators.

Fig. 1 (c) shows the relationship bet\'Ileen'resistanoe and

reverberation time for the reverberation room G.ll, and it is seen
that it is in better agreement with the experimental pOints than
either of the others, suggesting that the modified matching theory
is the most satisfactory description of the observed behaviour of
the Helmholtz resonators under reverberation room conditions.

, Unfortunately the quantitative agreement between theory and

experiment in the case of the incre,ase of re':er~beration time in
Studio 3G was very poor, theory indicating a much smaller increase
than was actually the case. Further 'Work. is therefore being
carried out in an effort to establish a theory which is in better
agreement with the experimental results.

6. PBAQTICAI, FORN'S OF lE1M.I-:lQL'];Z RES01{£l"TORS

All the e~,pe:rimental work described above was carried out on

resonators made in the form of concrete b1001o;:s for rigidity and
ease of construction. In ad.dition a uni t of six resonators wa,s
made from plywood and tested for frequency and neck resistance.
Thisoonstruction geve results which were identical with those from
the conorete units, but had the advantages of lightness and smaller
overall thiokness. The latter is of great importance vvhen dealing
wi th small studios, and there is no apparent reason why the dimensions
shOUld not be further reduoed. Again, for low frequency absorption
it may be possible to dispense with the separating walls between
individual resonators, a bloak of resonators consisting simply of a
front panel sm~Jll in comparison wi th the selected wavelength and per-
forated with holes of calculated diameter at a lmovvn spacing. This
point has been 'Verified in connection wi th perforated oovering materials,
(see Research Report B.040).
\

The wooden resonator with glass fabric serving as a resistive

oovering is shown in Fig. 10, together \i9ith one of the concrete units
and a wooden _busha

7. CONC1US IONS

Helmholtz resonators, suoh as those investigated in these experi-

ments, should be suitable for use as sound absorbing units. For a given
frequency of maximum absorption less depth is required than in the case
of panel resonators so far studied, a very desirable feature for ver;y low
frequency absorption. The operating frequenoy is aocurately predictable.
 -11-

The resistance may be adjusted over a useful range of seleotivity and

they may either increase or decrease the reverberation time of a room
acoording to the resista.nce value.

Previous theor~es have been extended to a.cco'lmt quantitatively

for the conditions for maximum absorption, and quali taU vely for the
inorease of reverberation time, which has been experimentally realised.

Thetria.ls which were made under actual studio conditions, though

inconclusive in some other respects, showed that these resonators do not
oause appreoiable colouration. It is proposed to test th{'lm under more
carefully controlled conditions when opportunity arises, and an a.ssess-
ment of their real value for studio treatment oompared with existing
methods will then be made.

(fI. L. Kirke)

'Investigation and Report by c. L.S. Gilford

A.L~ Newman
F.L .. Ward

Bibliograp!l.Y

i Rschevkin, Tech. Phys. U.S.S.R. III (1936) pp. 560-576

ii Alexaflder Wood, "Aooustios", (Blackie) 1940, p. 103
ili Rsohevkin, C.R.Acad.Sc. U.S.S.R. (1938) XVIII pp. 25-30.

DIP
 - 12 -

APPEHDIX

Freguencyof Resonance

Fig. 11 (a.) shows the acoustic circuit of a Helmholtz resonator,'

represented by its eleotrical analogue. The e .m.f. e· and ourrent i
of the circuit represent the pressure and volume flow respectively in
the resonator system, and the other equivalents are :-

L m/S2 ¥-
0 'VI
f1-o2

where m effecti ve mass of air in the neolc

S ..- cross-section of neck ;.-~~'

d effective length of neck .-- do I- -3'i1

16 fS
:-.:::-
1t 3
f -. density of air
0 .-- voloci ty of sound in air
VI ... volume of cavity
Rl -. radiation resistance of neck
R2 .. - frictional resistanoe of neck
--. viscosity of air
r V-
ill -- 21T x frequency Of incident sound

Rl is sm,all compared with R2 and may be neglocted in the ca so

of resonators wi th small neck diameters such as those here considered,

The resonance frequency is seen to be

f':C~
:1. t-=-
Fo" 2"1[,,/LO

o
2 -rr
175'-
·l'd:Vl
c·r
21f./V .
•••••• (1 )

where le is known as the oonduotivity of the orifice, equal to S.

d
Response Curve of Probe Microphone in Neck

The end oorrection given above represents an effective extension

of the neck beyond the wall surface, and BD in plaCing the probe near
the orifice ono is effectively measuring pressure at a point inside
the neclt. This condition is shown in Fig. 11 (b), where. the inductance
and resistance of the neelt have been split into two. components. E ia
the pressure measured by the microphone.
 - 13 -

Le t Zl be the impedance of the inner c ircui t LIRl C and le t Z.

be the impedance of the complete oirouit LRC.

1 2):1.
, Zll ...
~Rl~ 1- (ruL1 - _j
(l)C j
'2

Iz I
:I.
' .. {R2 ~.
( (lIL I )2)2"
( - l1il) }

and. E is given by

• • It 8 • • (2 )

We see from (2) that a maximum value of E occurs when Z is

a minimum, i.e. at the resonanoe frequency of the oomplete oircuit
LRC, and. similarly a minimum value of E ocours when Zl is a minimum,
i.e. at the resonance frequency of a ciroui t formed by LIB-IO.

Now as L1 is always less than L, and. 0 has the same valu.e for
both oiroui ts, i 1 follows that resonance will ocour for IRC at a
lower frequenoy than for LIRl e, henoe the maximum value of E will
always ocour at a lCilVer frequency than the minimum. As the probe
is moved away from the orifioe the maximum will remain oonstant in
frequenoy, 81 though becoming smaller in magnitude, while the
minimum will move towards the maximum until evenutally the
pressure measured ~ill be simply that of the source.

Probe Miorophone into Oavity of ResQflator

In this oondition the pressure across the capacitance C is

measured, and on varying the frequency a simple series circuit
response ourve will be" obtained, from vihich a valuo for the Q,
factor of the oircui t can be found.

Now Q, mL
R

Hence, knmring the value of L, wc obtain a value for R, the sum

of the radiation and frict ional resistances.

The accuracy of the method. depend.s. on the assumption of the

value of L. This value is effectively confirmed by the praotical
aocuraoy of resona.nce frequencies oaloulated. from (1).
 - 14

Matohing Theory of Absorption

The room is represented in Fig. 11(0) by a consta.nt voltage

generator in series wi th the characteristio impedance K, of a plane
wave \'Vhere S :::.: {Jc and is numerioally equal to 42 aooust io ohms.

The transforming action,which has been postulated in section

3.2 above, is due to the inorease in velocity taking place between
the plane wave front in the room and the interior of the resonator
neok. Using the notation of Fig. ll(d} the transformer ratio from
air to neclr will be .A/S and the effective impedance of the neck at
resonance, as Been by the plane wave,· will be

z :. - R{A/s) 2• -1 :.: -#.2

.A S
•••••• (3)

for unit area, since R is the impedance of the resonator at resonance.

This condition is shown in Fig. l1(e).

Now the energy absorbed in the resonator

This will have i ts D"Y'ea'~est

e 2- K
value when Z :- K and energy absorbed:::: -
o· 4I{2
If we define this to be unity, i.e. complete absorption, the "
absorption coefficient for any other value of Z is given by :-

4KZ l68Z
for air.
(42 i- Z )2

It will be noted tha.t this expression, applying to the whole

frontal al"ea of a resonator of which tM. neck is only a small fract ion,
ia the same as that given in the Appendix of Research Report B.032 for
a panel resonator in which the impedance is uniform over the whole
surface.
 .. 15 -

TABLE I

EFFECTIVE IMPEDANCES OF RESONATOR NECKS

.---------------------------------------------.---------------------------.
Q R Z R
Acoustio Theory
ohms

RESONATOR 'A

lFroquency 14~~s__T""'r::"...:a::::::n::.:s::...::f:..::·o:.:r.:::m=e.::.r__=Im::::-o:.;pe::...;d:::a=·n;:.::c~e~R::::a~t.::.i.:::.o__1:.. ::..7:. .

Open neck 35/40 2.4 3 1.4

--
One layer of bandage 15 5.6 8.5
Open mesh saolting 13 6.7 10
Two layers of bandage
Cullurn' S 1301' im
10
10
8.4
8.4
13
13
--
,
ROC1{Woo1 in cavity 9 9.3 15 - H
Fibreglass over neck 8 4.3 7.3 ... ]j

Three layers of bandage

Bandage in neck
5
5
l?
17
'28
28
--
RESON.ATOR It
Frequency 75 c/s Transformer Impedance Ratio 147

Open neck 13 0.14 22 0.08

One layer of bandage
T"w9 layers of bandage ~t
0.29
0.35
44
52
-
...
Rook.Woo1 in oavity 5f- 0.35 52
80
-
Glass wool fabrio 3i 0.54 - JIi
Bandage in neel;: 3! appl'()x. 0.54 80 approx. -
RESONATOR C
li'reguency 105 o/a Transformer Impedance Ratio 8.5
Open neck 18 1.8 15 0.9
One layer of ba.nd.a.ge 8 4.0 33 . -
RESONATOR
,.
D {Repeat of Resonator B in wood.)

;B'r~guenoy 75 c/a Transformer Impedance Ratio 190

Open neck 13 0.14 27 0.08
~
One layer of bandage
-
6! 0.29 57 -
lE Alteration in frequency.
 - 16 -

TABLE 11

ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT
Qaloulated from'simple matohing theor~ (para. 3.2)

'"
,,'1i
....•
168Z
(42 '+ Z )2

e cA Q(m
Resonator caloulated measured
(Millington Formula)

A (1400/s) open neck 25% 14~

11
" I!
one layer bandage 5 850 53~,

B (75 c/s) .pen ne ok 85% 56%

11 tI
" one layer bandage 100% 60%

two layers bandage 63 01

le ,
" " " 9750

I
11
11
" glass wool fabric 90% 53%
 TABLE III

DErAILS OF RESONATORS

Volume 2530 ccs.

A, B, C same ccncrete block, using different neck sizes.
D of 1/IIOod, neck size as with B.

Resonat.r Calculated Neck size r. d. d S k R Transformer

frequency (inches) ems ems ems cms 2 cms bl b2 impedance
ratio

A 140 1 .. 5 x 1.5 1,9 3.91 7.15 ll.4 1.65 0.58 0.828 1.69

B 76 0.5 x 0.. 675 0.64 1.59 2.67 1.25 0.49 0.002 0.077 147

C 105 1.0 x 1.5 1 .. 27 3.81 5.97 5.08 0.85 0.49 0.043 8.5
I-'
D 75 0.5 x 0.675 0.64 1.59 2.67 1.25 0.49 0.002 0.077 190 ...;z

r. d
=
_
radius of neck
d. + 1.7 ro
k = S conductivity of~rifice
d
~ radiatien resistance
== resistance of neck
area of cr3SS sectien of neck
0::

= actual length of neck

Transfermer ratio = area surrounding neck
S
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THEORETICAL CURVES - VARIATION OF REVERBERATION TIME
..
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0..."
.c '- ~

I- ..c: r. 0.. E WITH NECK RESISTANCE .

INVESTIGATION OF HELMHOLTZ
RESONATORS. BSHEETS. No.1
 This drawing/specification is the property of
.,.o the British Broadcasting Corporation and may

-
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not be reproduced or disclosed to a third
party in any !orm without the written i-'er-
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._----------'----'---

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FREQUENCY eis, o

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-------------_. '---1
BBC IINV;-~T~~ATION
RESEARCH DEPT
~G-'R~'N-.~~.-----~R~E~P~O~R~T~---------
OF HELMHOLTZ RESONATORS. CH'D. B.041
-r;s-~p1 ~ SHEETS. No. 4
~--'.---~- -----------.- -"-" ._._----_._------- AP'D
 This Jr'Jwlng <;pec:fI(Jt'on I$. th~ property of the 8r 1tis[1
er ?Jdca~t;ng Corporatiun .1nJ mat ;'ot be 'reproduced
Of disclosed to a thIrd party If! allY form wtthOut tht"
wrlftefl perq1t~\I(jn ot {he CorporatIon

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FIG.6.
REVERBERATION TIME CURVES FOR 75 c /s RESONATORS.

! ~1:
: I RESEA~CH DEPT
--,-----_.
O_LT_Z_R~E_S_O_N_A1i_O~R:
OP'N. CIl'k'hI REPORT
IINVESTIGAT.I_O_N__
O_F_H
__E_L_M_H__ CH'D.
B.041
8 SHEETS· No 5.
 I
This ,jrawing/sp~(lf!cJtjon

Broadcasting
or dt~dosed
Corporation
t01.a I,hird
IS

.l"cl
"the p!"'operty

""'1
paf'ty !n .lily
wrlteen permission of the Cor·poral!on.
not
!Ofill
be
\;if the BI iti)h

without ~hl~
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f~_p_r_O_d_'_I\_"_:d_'_l __-_-·- ---- ----- ----- - - - --------- _______ 1_
..

Fre'{uef7ry In cvc1es per second

r . I . . T---------------RESEA-RCH DEPT

lBB~IINVESTIGATION OF HELMHOLTZ RESONATORS. ~~¥+<W1-----RB~g4i

I DS 41 P l~-:-t~l BSHEETS.No6_
 FIG. 10
TWO FORMS OF RESONATOR & WOODEN BUSH .

FIG.9.
ARRANGEMENT USE.D TO OBTAIN RESPONSE CURVES.

BBC INVESTIGATION OF HELMHOLTZ REPORT

RESONATORS. I----+-~ ·a041
8 SHEETS. No. 7.
ISSUE
. I ~ ______~N=E=C=K~________~~'C~A~V~IT~Y~
2.4-8-4~.
I
I
~r--I----III
L C

(a.)

LZ c·

E L= LI~L'2.
~---------------~ R 1<1 -;- I< Z.
0

Eo
(b)

A:: AREA SURROUNDII':"G

~ASSOCIATED WITH R RESONATOR.
EACH NECK.
S· CROSS SECTION OF
NECK ONLY. PLANE
WAVE L

~
5 K
T
z

FIG. 11
(8)
DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING APPENDIX
@)
BBC INVESTIGATION OF HELMHOLTZ. ~~ REPORT

RESONATORS. B.041
DS/1/~ 85 I-IEETS. NoS.