ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS

5th Semester B. Arch Degree

Faculty: Ar. Deepak V

Objective:

• To provide an introduction to architectural

acoustics through basic studies of sound and
its behavior in architectural spaces.

• To generate an awareness to the impact of

noise on human activity spaces.
 MODULE 1
• Nature of sound- Properties of sound-pure
tones, over tones, frequency, wavelength,
velocity of sound.
• Audible frequency ranges –units-Decibels
• Sound pressure and sound intensity.
• Measurements -sound level meters.
 MODULE 2
• Behavior of sound in rooms- Sound reflection, sound
diffusion and diffraction. Room shapes, room
resonance.
• Requirement for good acoustics – Reverberation-
Optimum reverberation time, calculation of
reverberation time, Sabine’s formula, Eyring’s formula.
• Acoustical defects in enclosed spaces.
• Noise sources - Effect of noise in human being- air
borne and structure borne noise , Noise criteria curves,
noise levels- Transmission loss- Noise control.
 MODULE 3
• Acoustical materials: Sound absorption
coefficient
• Efficiency of sound absorbers- sound absorbing
materials, porous and non- porous materials, pre
-fabricated units, acoustical plasters, acoustical
tiles, acoustical blankets.
• Acoustical design of buildings- auditoriums,
Room for music, classrooms multipurpose rooms,
studios and open-air theaters.
• Acoustical correction to the existing spaces.
 TEXTS / REFERENCES
• 1. Lawerence E Kinsler, Austin R.Frey,
`Fundamentals of Acoustics’
• 2. Knudson and Harris, `Acoustical Designing
to Architecture’.

• 1.David Egan, `Architectural Acoustics’ Ross

publishers, 2008.
• 2.Ducan Templeton et all ‘Acoustics in the
Built Environment, Architectural press1997
 University Examination Pattern
PART-A

• 8 short questions 5 marks each from all modules - 40 marks

• 3 questions of 10 marks each from Module I, II & III, with
choice to answer any two – 20 Marks

PART B

• 3 questions of 20 marks each from Module I, II, & III with

choice to answer any two – 40 Marks

TOTAL MARKS - 100

 INTRODUCTION
Acoustics is derived from the word ‘Akoustikos’, means of or
for hearing, ready to hear.

• Is a branch of Physics
• Is a study of all kinds of mechanical waves in any medium
• It was Aristotle who established the relation that
anything that vibrates can produce sound (dates back to
384-322 BC).
• Architectural acoustics recognised as a science just over a
century.
Architectural Acoustics

• The scientific knowhow to achieve a good sound

within a space (building)
• Involves the study of speech intellegibility, speech
pivacy, music quality, noise control and vibration
reduction within the built environment.
 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
Acoustics is derived from the word ‘Akoustikos’, means of or
for hearing, ready to hear.

• Earliest meeting places were open areas in natural forms.

• Epidaurus (330 BC) Flavian Amphitheatre (71 AD), Circus
Maximus, Hippodrome.
• Understanding of the directional nature of human voice.
• Seating arrangements were made in concentric semi-
circles in front of speakers for best audibility.
• Earliest outdoor amphitheaters.
 Terminology
• Sound • Frequency
• Noise • Hertz
• Absorption • Intensity
• Absorption coefficient • Longitudinal wave
• Acoustics • Refraction
• Ambient sound • Resonance
• Decay of sound • Reverberation
• Decay time • Timbre
• Decibel • Transmission
• Diffraction • Vibration
• Diffuse sound • Volume
• Doppler Effect • Wavelength
• Echo • Watt
• Equalization
 TYPE OF ACOUSTICS

ACOUSTICS

RAY OR
WAVE STASTICAL
GEOMETRIC
ACOUSTICS ACOUSTIS
ACOUSTICS

The architects will mostly deal with acoustical problem in any sort of the built environment
in the ray acoustics diagrams and the ray acoustics principles.
 Architectural Acoustics

INDOOR ACOUSTICS / OPEN-

ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS
AIR ACOUSTICS

OUTDOOR ACOUSTICS / OPEN-

BUILDING ACOUSTICS
AIR ACOUSTICS

• Design Fundamentals
ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICS • Acoustical Materials
• Noise Reduction
• Indoor Acoustical
Quality
• Noise Control • Sound Transmission
• City Planning • Mechanical Vibration
• Acoustics & Landscape Control
Objective / Physical Definition

Sound is a form of energy. It travels in waves through

elastic media and cause fluctuation of pressure and
particle displacement.

Subjective / Physiological Definition

Sound is an auditory sensation produced by stimulation

of the organ of hearing, evoked by physical fluctuation
of pressure in media.
TYPES OF WAVE MOTION

Longitudinal Waves
The particle displacement is PARALLEL to the direction
of the propagation of wave.

Transverse Waves
The particle displacement is PERPENDICULAR to the
direction of the propagation of wave.
SOUND WAVE PROPAGATION
FREQUENCY
The frequency is the number of wave cycles that passes
to a fixed point in unit time. f = 1/T (where, f is the
frequency, T is the time period per cycle in second). Unit
of frequency is Hertz (Hz)

WAVELENGTH
It is the distance between identical points (adjacent
crests) in the adjacent cycles of a waveform signal
propagated in space or along a wire. Wavelength(m) =
Velocity (m/s)/ Frequency (Hz).
• TONE

Frequency creates a sensation of sound called as

tone. There are two type of tones, one is called the
PURE TONE and the other is COMPLEX TONE.

– The pure tone is the single frequency sound, or only a

particular frequency and nothing else. For example, a
vibrating object like tuning fork or maybe a guitar
string is a pure tone. It involves only one frequency.
– The second type of tone called complex tone, where
there are two or more frequencies mixed together.
995 of sound is complex tone.
• BASS - MID – TREBLE SOUNDS

Humans can listen sound from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.

This audio spectrum is divided into 3 categories.

– BASS: Low frequency range, approx. 20Hz – 250Hz.

– MID: Mid range is approx. 250Hz to 2000Hz.
– TREBLE: High frequency range, above 2000Hz.
 Range of hearing
• The hearing range of the young people, is
almost the full spectrum: 31.5Hz – 16000Hz.
• Old people: 31.5 – 4000Hz.
• Male Voice: 125Hz – 4000Hz.
• Female Voice: 250Hz – 8000Hz.
• Music instruments: 31.5Hz – 10,000Hz