Chapter 6 . . .

Room Acoustics

Sound Energy Distribution in Rooms

The acoustic energy density of the diffused sound field at the steady state, E0 = Ed + Es
Ed Energy density due to direct sound field Es Acoustic energy density due to diffused field

The sound level at a distance r, a) For a non-directional sound source

L r L w 10 log { 1 4 r2 4 } Rc

b) For a directional sound source with a directivity factor Q

L r L w 10 log { Q 4 } 2 4 r Rc

Sound Energy Distribution in Rooms . . .

Where, The sound power level of the source,
W L w 10 log { -12 } 10

Rc Room Constant
S Rc 1-

the average sound absorption coefficient of all

S surfaces in the room total surface area

Example
A small machine is situated on the non-absorbing floor in the centre of a room of dimensions 12m x 5m x 4m. The sound power level of the source is 85dB. Calculate the sound level at a distance of 3m from the machine if the reverberation time is 0.8 seconds.

Answer
Volume 12 x 5 x 4 240 m 3 Total surfacearea 2 x (12 x 5 12 x 4 5 x 4) 256 m 2 By using Sabine s formula, 0.16 x V T A 0.16 x 240 0.8 A A 48m 2

48 Average absorption coefficient 256 0.1875

Answer
S 48 Room constantRc 1 - 1 - 0.1875 2 59.07 m
L Lw 10 log { Q 4 r2 2 4 } Rc

L w 85 dB, Q 2 and r 3 4 L 85 10 log { } 2 4 3 59.07 85 10.685 74.315 74.3 dB

Chapter 7 Noise Control Engineering

Noise control
Noise control is a method for reducing unwanted sound.
Noise chain

Noise Source

Transmission path

Receiver

The noise reduction measures may be applied to either one or more of the above links.

Noise control
a) Control at the source Useful control actions are, i. Elimination of noisy equipment and works methods

Noise control
ii. Substitution of quieter machinery and methods

iii. Modification

Noise control
Blocking the transmission Path Noise control is achieved by isolating the noise source by its, Position
e.g. Airports are isolated from residential area

Mountings
e.g. Spring Mounting, Rubber Mounting

Enclosures
e.g. Compressor enclosure

Noise control
Protecting the Receiver The following control actions can be taken to achieve noise control at the receiver. Control of exposure time Provide personnel hearing protection
e.g. ear plugs, ear muffs

Job rotation Provision of quiet working areas for time when not working on the noisiest processes

Interference of Waves
Overlapping of waves. This is governed by the Principle of Superposition which states that the resultant displacement of two or more waves is given by the algebraic sum of the individual displacements of the overlapping waves. Constructive interference

Destructive interference

Noise control
Types of noise control: There are two types of noise control. 1. Active noise control 2. Passive noise control

Active Noise control

Microphone Noise
Loudspeaker

Signal processor

It uses the principle of destructive interference between waves to reduce noise. The term active refers the use of a source of acoustic energy in the noise reduction process. Noise reduction: up to 30dB at low frequencies (< 500 Hz)

Active Noise control . . .

Applications: For the wide variety of noise sources
Industrial fans Air conditioning systems Generators Transformers Vehicle exhaust noise Engines

For small enclosed spaces

Aircraft cockpits Inside sports cars

Active Vibration Control

This is exactly the same principles and techniques used in active noise control , can be applied to the reduction of vibration in machinery and structures.
Accelerometer / vibration transducer

Noise

Signal processor

External vibrators

Passive Noise control

Uses sound absorbing materials to convert sound energy into heat. This includes, Insulation Silencers Vibration mounts Damping treatments

Silencers
There are two different types: 1. Absorptive silencers 2. Reactive silencers
In absorptive silencers acoustic energy is converted to heat by sound absorbing processes. In reactive silencers sound waves are reflected back towards the source. The acoustic energy is dissipated in the extended flow path resulting from internal reflections and by absorption at the source.

Absorptive Silencers
a b

Absorbing material

The simplest type of silencer is a duct with walls lined with sound absorbing material.
The attenuation produced , in dB per metre run of duct,
R
1.4

P { } S

; P perimeter (m)
S cross sectional area (m2)

This equation is accurate for ducts with S < 0.3m2 and which are more nearly square than 2:1.

Absorptive Silencers
Sound attenuation is increased by splitting a single duct into number of small parallel ducts. And all these small ducts are lined with sound absorbing material.

Maximum attenuation is achieved with the highest possible P/S ratio, which in effect means that for a given cross sectional area of duct the sound is exposed to the greatest possible surface area of sound absorbing material.

Acoustic enclosures
Acoustic enclosures prevent the radiation of noise from a noise source to an outside area. By doing a proper design the noise will be reduced successfully but noise within the enclosure may be much higher. This causes, Inconvenience to the operator Create cooling problems This high level of reverberant sound can be reduced by a sound absorbing material line to the inside walls.

Acoustic enclosures
Insertion Loss (IL): This is the difference in sound levels at the reception point before and after the installation of enclosure around the machine.

IL = Lbefore Lafter
Lbefore sound level in the room before enclosure is fitted Lafter sound level in the room after enclosure is fitted

Acoustic enclosures
And also IL = R 10 log S + 10 log A R sound reduction index of enclosure S total area of enclosure A total absorption inside the enclosure

A i si

Reference book:
Acoustics and noise control
2nd edition B J Smith, R J Peters and S Owen

Practical schedule
3 Practical 2 - Outdoors 1 Industrial visit Assignments: Three (3) in-class assignments, each carry 10 marks. 3 for performance 7 for assignment