Acoustic Defects

Sound echo
• It is produced when the direct and the
reflected sounds are clearly and
separately heard.
• When the reflected sound reaches 0.05s
after the arrival of direct sound, echo is
produced.
• Echoes are quite pronounced in domed
structures such as temples, where the
reflected sounds concentrated in ‘foci’.
a)–shows sound reflection from concave surface
b)- shows sound reflection from convex surface.
c) -shows reflected sound ‘r’ and direct sound
‘ d ‘at point’ p’.
 Flutter
• When the direct sound is repeated many
times as echoes, room flutter is produced.
• Flutter is generally produced when the
sound is reflected between hard parallel
walls.( corridors)
• Both echo and room flutter are undesirable
in buildings.
 Focusing
• Focusing occurs when sound waves are
reflected from concave surfaces and build
up the reflected sound levels at some
point or area away from the reflecting
surface.
 Creep
• Creep is the reflection of sound along a
curved surface.
• It occurs when a sound surface is located
close to surfaces such as domes, vaults
etc so that the reflected sound energy is
conserved and can be heard distinctly at
some point further along the surface.for
example, a whispering gallery.
 Diffusion
• A diffuse sound field is one in which the
sound level is everywhere the same.
• Diffusion is a desirable for many listening
spaces.
Acoustical treatment of rooms
 Acoustical treatment of rooms
Design factors to be considered while doing
acoustical treatment of rooms.
1. To make sure that the return is adequate for
the investment of capital.
2. Location and orientation from architectural
considerations: identify the types of noise.
3. Purpose of space: for auditorium, speech,
music or cinema.
4. Dimension of room: to restrict distance within
25m for visual identification of facial
expressions.
5. Drawings of room :plan, elevations, sections
6. Sound absorption and reverberation time.
– Tabulate the values of room surface areas
materials and their respective absorption
coefficients @ 125,500,2000Hz.
– Find the total absorption in the bare room @
500Hz.
– Apply Sabine’s formula & find the RT.
– Compare it with the required optimum and
also estimate the absorption unit required for
optimum RT.
– The choice and area of materials required
depend on the availability of materials and
cost.
7. Other considerations:
– It is better to cover the rear wall and rear
portions of the room first with absorbents as
this will reduce undesirable echoes.
– Work from back to front .i.e .from rear to
stage.
– It is better to apply the acoustical materials in
patches rather than continuously.
– Soft materials should be at a height of more
than eight feet (2.5 m) above floor level to
prevent their getting tampered with by the
audience.
 Acoustical design principles of
Auditorium
1. The site must be in a locality where the
noise level is not more than about 40db.
2. The volume provided in the hall should
be at the following rates
– Lecture hall: 3-4 m3/person.
– Concert hall: 4-5.5 m3/person.
3. The shape of the hall is an important
consideration.
• Acoustical defects such as echoes, flutter, sound
foci can be avoided.
• A rectangular hall splayed stage walls and pitched
reflecting ceiling is quite satisfactory.
• Other common shapes are the fan type or the
horse- shoe type.
• The length to width ratio should not exceed 2 and
the height should be about 2/3 of the width for halls
up to 1500m3.For bigger halls the height may be
even1/3 of the width.
• The length of the hall should be less than 45m.
• To avoid excessive length of the hall, a balcony is
provided at the far end for the additional capacity.
4. The provision of sound absorbing
materials must satisfy the Sabine’s
formula for the optimum reverberation
time.
• Acoustical treatment with sound absorbing
materials is needed on the rear portions of
the ceiling and side walls.
• The floor must be finished with linoleum or
some soft board or tile covering.
• 2/3 of the total seating capacity may be
assumed to be present .
5. The floor of the hall should be inclined at
not less than 8 degrees to the horizontal.
• The front row should be placed at not less
than3.5m from the curtain line.
6. If an existing auditorium building has a
domed or parabolic shell roof its acoustics
will not be satisfactory.
• Such ceiling can be corrected by providing
suspended panels.