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

Behaviour of sound in an enclosure
• An enclosed space is a room or area bounded on every of its sides.
The materials for enclosure may be classified into two:

• Those that allow sound rays to pass through and those that do not
allow sound rays to pass through. On encountering barriers posed
by the enclosure, sound waves are likely to behave in the following
ways:

• Reflection
• Absorption
• Refraction
• Diffusion
• Diffraction
• Transmission
 REFLECTION
• This occurs when the
wavelength of a sound wave is
smaller than the surface of an
obstacle. In the case of an
enclosed space, the sound
waves hit every side of the
enclosure continuously until the
sound energy reduces to zero.
• The amount of waves reflected
depends on the smoothness,
size, and softness of the
materials of enclosure.
• The angle of incidence of sound
rays is equal to that of the
reflected rays only if the surface
of the reflector is flat. But when
it is curved, the angles are
different.
 ABSORPTION
• When sound waves hit the
surface of an obstacle, some of
its energy is reflected while
some are lost through its
transfer to the molecules of the
barrier.
• The lost sound energy is said to
have been absorbed by the
barrier. The thickness and
nature of the material as
regards its softness and
hardness influences the amount
of sound energy absorbed.
 REFRACTION
• This is the bending of
sound when it travels from
one medium into another
medium. The difference in
the composition of the
two different media bends
the sound i.e. the angle of
incidence changes into an
angle of refraction as it
travels into the new
medium.
 DIFFUSION
• This is the scattering of waves
from a surface. It occurs as a
result of the texture and
hardness of the obstacle is
comparable to the
wavelength of the sound.
• The direction of the incident
ray changes when it strikes
the surface of the obstacle.
Satisfaction is achieved when
sound is heard in all direction
at equal level.
 DIFFRACTION
• When the wavelength
of a sound wave is
smaller or equal to the
size of the obstacle,
the sound rays tend to
bend round the edge
of the obstacle thereby
turning the edge to a
sound source.
 TRANSMISSION

• In this phenomenon, sound wave is carried by

molecules of the obstacle through vibration and re-
emitted at the other side irrespective of the medium.
It can be structure borne, air borne or impact sound.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE BEHAVIOUR
OF SOUND IN AN ENCLOSURE
• Reduction in its intensity of sound – This can results due to the
distance between its source and the receiver.
• Absorption of direct sound by the audience – The listeners of the
sound absorb some of the sound in the process of hearing.
• Absorption of direct and reflected sound by surfaces – The walls,
ceiling and floor of the enclosure absorbs and reflect sound waves
thereby controlling the way the sounds behave.
• Reflection of sounds from right-angled corners - Sound incident to
a right-angled corner of room will be reflected back towards source
if surfaces are acoustically reflective. This can in turn produce
echoes especially in large spaces.
• Dispersion of the sides of an enclosure - Reflections can be
controlled by making one surface dispersive i.e. not at right angle to
each. This would have affected the reflection of the sound thereby
affecting its behaviour.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE BEHAVIOUR
OF SOUND IN AN ENCLOSURE
• Edge diffraction of sound - Edge diffraction results in the curvature of
part of a sound wave around the edge of a barrier. This causes the
obstacles to scatter the sound waves making it behave like a source
of sound.
• Sound shadow - Any barrier interrupting a sound wave will create a
shadow, synonymous to light rays. However, because of edge
diffraction some sound will creep into this but such penetration is
frequency dependent - high frequencies are less diffracted than low
frequencies. Such problems can occur in auditorium with balconies.
• Primary reflection – This depends on the angle of incidence which is
equal to the angle of reflection. Also, the nature of sound reflector is
important.
• Panel resonance - Sound waves can propagate "through" a solid
material by panel vibration. The sound does not actually penetrate
the material but rather causes this to vibrate and act as a sound
source itself. The panel will be vibrated by both direct and reflected
sound waves.
Room Acoustics
 REVERBERATION TIME OPTIMISATION
The reverberation time can be maintained at an optimum value by
adopting the following methods;

1. By providing windows and openings

2. By having full capacity of audience in the hall or room
3. By using heavy curtains with folds.
4. By decorating the walls by pictures, maps etc.
5. By covering floor with carpets.
6. By covering the ceiling and wall with good sound absorbing
materials like felt, fibre board, False ceiling etc.

The reverberation time depends on the size of the hall and the
quality of sound. Thus, the reverberation time can be controlled
either by inserting or removing sound-absorbing material in a hall
or room.