REDUCTION OF

AIRBORNE SOUND

Sounds originating in the air are then

transmitted:
(a)Along a continuous air path through
openings :
For example through open
windows, elevator shafts, doors, through cracks
around pipes, electric conduits, telephone
outlets, through ventilating ducts.
(b)By means of diaphragmatic action of
partitions
:
Sound waves can force a
partition to move back and forth as a
diaphragm.
By this means, sound from a
source on one side of a wall can be
communicated to the opposite side.
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ACOUSTICS 8

 Sound originating from direct impacts :

Impulses produced by the droppings of objects
on a floor, the scuffling of feet, footballs, the
slamming of doors, or from machinery
vibrations.

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ACOUSTICS 8

 Sounds originating in the air are generally of much

smaller power, persisting for a long duration.
Their disturbing influence
regions near their origin.

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ACOUSTICS 8

is

confined

to

Transmission through Openings:

Noise can be readily communicated from one
portion of a building to another through openings
such as windows or doors.
These openings limit the total amount of insulation
which can be attained.
If it is necessary to open windows for ventilation,
the sound insulation between two adjacent rooms
may be limited by the open windows to 20dB
or even less.

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ACOUSTICS 8

 Suppose that outdoor noise is transmitted into a

room through an opening 10 inches wide and
that the transmitted sound in the room attains a
level of 60 dB.
By reducing the opening to a width of 1 inch,
the acoustical power transmitted through it will
be decreased.
In other words, the level of the transmitted sound
will be lowered to 50 dB.
A further reduction in the width of the opening
to 0.1 inch would lower the noise level another
10 dB.
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Thus it is apparent
that a high degree of6
ACOUSTICS 8

Sound Transmission Loss :

A sound insulator transmits only a fraction of
the sound which falls upon it; a sound absorbent
reflects only a fraction of the sound which falls
upon it.
Sound-insulative merit of a partition is
generally
expressed
in
terms
of
its
transmission loss in decibels.

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ACOUSTICS 8

 The transmission loss is equal to the

number of decibels by which sound energy
which is incident on a partition is reduced in
transmission through it.
The larger the value of T.L. for a partition, the
greater the sound insulation it provides.

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ACOUSTICS 8

Rigid Partitions
The transmission of sound through a rigid partition,
such as brick, concrete or solid-plaster wall is
mainly by the forced vibration of the wall; by
the pressure pulsations of the sound waves
against it.
The vibrating structure thus becomes a
secondary source of sound and radiates
acoustical energy into the space on the opposite
side of the partition.
The insulative properties of a partition at low
frequencies are partially dependent on its
resonant frequencies which are determined by
8/22/16
ACOUSTICS
8
9
its mass, stiffness and
internal
damping.

 Sound is reradiated by both sides of the wall. That

radiated on one side is a part of the reflected
sound, that on the other is the transmitted
sound. The higher the frequency, the less will
be the motion of the wall.
Solid walls can lose insulation if hair crack
develop on them.

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ACOUSTICS 8

10

 The lowest resonant frequencies of the structural

partitions used in buildings are usually below 100
cycles and the damping is usually high.
For frequencies above 100 or 200 cycles, the
mass is the important factor. The T.L. of a wall
increases with an increase in mass per unit area
of wall section.
The average increase in T.L. for each doubling
of weight of the partition, will be from 4 to 5 dB.
The T.L. is low at low frequencies and it increases
with increasing frequencies. It usually increases
3 6 dB for each doubling of the frequency.
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ACOUSTICS 8

11

 Since the T.L. of most partitions is small at low

frequencies, these sounds are the most
difficult to insulate.
In the case of a thin flexible panel, such as
window pane, not only the mass but also the
stiffness, the internal damping, the size of
the panel and the manner in which its edges
are fastened contribute to its transmission loss
characteristics.

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ACOUSTICS 8

12

Porous Materials
The acoustical power will be reduced to one half
of its initial value in traversing a layer 1 inch thick;
it will be reduced to one-quarter of its initial value
in 2 inches and one eighth in 3 inches.
Therefore T.L. provided by a uniform porous
partition is directly proportional to the
thickness of the material.
Non-rigid porous materials do not provide a large
amount of sound insulation unless the partition is
exceedingly thick.

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ACOUSTICS 8

13

Compound Wall Constructions (Complex

Partitions)
A complex partition is one which, unlike a single
partition is so constructed that one face can vibrate
differently from the other.
Insulation provided by the solid partition is almost
completely determined by its weight.
The faces of a complex partition are connected two
ways. One is by the air between the leaves. Other
the structure to which it is attached.

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ACOUSTICS 8

14

 It will be remembered that each successive

doubling of the weight of the partition adds sound
insulation 4-5dB.
Two or more lightweight partitions that are
isolated from each other is economical for a
heavy masonry partition where relatively high
value of T.L. is required.
Also double wall construction offers the most
practical means of obtaining high insulation at
moderate cost and reasonable dead load.

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ACOUSTICS 8

15

 Structural ties between the separate partitions

tend to convert the compound partition into a
single rigid partition and thus reduce the sound
insulation.
The number of points at which the two partitions
are tied together should be held to a minimum
and the ties should be of a flexible nature.
Staggered
stud
structural separation
beneficial.

construction
and therefore

provides
is often

The suspension of an absorptive blanket or

fiberboard between double partitions or between
the wood studs or channel irons in staggered stud
partitions may be a substantial aid to insulation if
8/22/16
ACOUSTICS 8
16
the partitions are structurally
separated.

8/22/16

ACOUSTICS 8

17

Windows and Doors

The positions of windows ought to be carefully

planned so that without sacrificing utility and
beauty, they are removed as far as possible from
other windows in adjacent noisy rooms or
from street noise.

It is even helpful to hinge the frames of a

window which swings outward so that the panes
reflect, in a direction away from the window of
the adjacent room, sound passing through the
open window.

Good sound insulation is virtually impossible

unless doors and windows fit tightly in their
frames and cracks must
be
8/22/16
ACOUSTICS
8 eliminated.
18

 The average T.L. of a window depends on the

thickness of the pane, the heavier the glass, the
more the insulation it provides.
Double panes are frequently used to increase the
sound insulation of a window.
Increasing the separation between the two
panes from inch to 6 inch may add as much as
10 dB to the T.L.
Double pane windows and sometimes the triple
pane windows, with 6 inches or more separation
between the sheets of glass are required in special
rooms where excellent sound insulation is
needed(radio studios).
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ACOUSTICS 8

19

 T.L. also increases with frequency.

Most doors of ordinary construction have an
average T.L. of 20 -25 dB; some specially
manufactured doors have T.L.s as high as 40dB.

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ACOUSTICS 8

20

8/22/16

ACOUSTICS 8

21

Noise-Insulation Factor
The amount of incident sound energy transmitted
through a partition is called transmission
coefficient .
It is related to the T.L. of a partition by the
equation:
T.L. =10log10 (1/a) dB
The average transmission coefficient
a= 1S1+2S2+3S3+.. = T
S
S
where 1, 2, 3 are the transmission
coefficients of the different parts of the boundary; S1,
S2, S3 are their corresponding areas and S is
the
8/22/16sum of all these areas.
ACOUSTICS 8
22

 The transmittance and the total number of unit of

absorption A in a room are the principal factors
effecting the noise insulative properties of its
boundaries.
Noise insulation Factor = 10 log10 (A/T) dB
Little would be gained by an increase in the
insulation value of the walls since most of
the sound is communicated through the
windows and doors.

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ACOUSTICS 8

23

Wood-stud and steel stud Partitions

These are faced with plaster on wood, metal or
gypsum lath, or faced with fiberboard, plywood or
similar materials.
Staggered stud construction is better than
single stud construction.
Suspended absorptive blankets between the
staggered studs usually increase the T.L.
especially if they are covered with heavy paper or
similar material on one or preferably on both the
sides.
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ACOUSTICS 8

24

Brick, Tile Masonry and Poured Concrete

Partitions

This group include brick, poured concrete, glass

blocks, concrete block, cinder blocks, clay tile,
gypsum tile and other masonry partitions.

If porous materials are used in wall constructions,

the
interstices
should
be
of
the
noncommunicating type; that is each cavity should be
closed.

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ACOUSTICS 8

25

Partitions with resilient attachment of

lath
These are constructed of lath fastened to studs
by special nails or resilient clips.
The special nail or clip reduces the coupling
between the plastered lath and the studs, thus
reducing the vibrational energy communicated to
the opposite side of the partition.

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ACOUSTICS 8

26

Solid-plaster partitions
Weight is the primary factor controlling the
insulation of solid plaster between stud partitions
and of stud less plaster partitions.
Lime plaster gives slightly higher insulation
than other types.

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ACOUSTICS 8

27

Noise Reduction by Sound-Absorptive

Treatment
The installation of acoustical absorptive materials in
a room has the following beneficial effects:
It reduces the reverberation time several-fold.
It reduces the overall noise level.
It tends to localize noise to the regions of its
origin.

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ACOUSTICS 8

28

 Sound absorbents rely for their action upon the

frictional losses which occur when the
alternating pressure of the incident sound wave
causes a to and fro movement of the air
contained in the pores of the material.

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ACOUSTICS 8

29

 Acoustical behaviour of a
absorbent is determined by

porous

type

of

o The
porosity,
represented
by
the
percentage volume of air contained by the
material
o Resistance to air flow through the material
which depends upon the diameter of the
pores.
o The thickness of the material.
o The greater these factors, the greater absorbent
coefficient.
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ACOUSTICS 8

30

ASBESTOS BLANKET

ACOUSTIPAD

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ACOUSTICS 8

31

ASBESTOS FIBRE

8/22/16

FIBRE GLASS

ACOUSTICS 8

32

FIBROUS WALLBOARD

8/22/16

POLYESTER SOUND ACOUSTIC

FELT

ACOUSTICS 8

33

STONEWOOL

8/22/16

SLAGWOOL

ACOUSTICS 8

34

SPRAYED ASBESTOS
FOAM BLOCK

WOODWOOL
8/22/16

ACOUSTICS 8

35

Application of Acoustical Materials

In rooms with low ceilings (less than about 12 feet)
and with the other dimensions comparably large,
apply a material having a noise reduction
coefficient(N.R.C.) of at least 0.6 over the entire
ceiling.
The higher the ceiling the higher must be the
value of NRC.

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ACOUSTICS 8

36

 Sustained reflections between the hard side walls

will take place; these reflections often result in a
disappointingly low reduction of noise in room
resonance, in excessive reverberation and
sometimes in flutter echoes. Here the usual
solution is application of treatment to side
walls as well as to the ceiling.
It need not cover the entire side walls, but can be
in patches, panels or bands (strips) covering
about one half of the wall surface.
Where patches of material are used, it is
advantageous to place the patches on opposite
pairs of walls so that reflective surfaces of the
walls are not directlyACOUSTICS
opposite
to each other.
8/22/16
8
37

RESONANT TYPE ABSORBENTS

Wallboards when mounted upon battens, as usually
recommended, absorb in two ways.
They absorb by reason of being porous
They also absorb because of a resonance effect.
Being very flexible they are easily set into
vibration by the incident sound, thus dissipating
energy in another way.
The effect of resonance is to increase the
absorption at low frequencies.
The resonant type of absorbent find particular
application in forming an absorbent with a non
porous surface.
8/22/16
ACOUSTICS 8
38

 the resonance effects arise from the air

imprisoned in the interspace, for at certain
frequencies the combination of the mass of the
covering surface and the stiffness of the air
layer comes in tune with the incident sound, which
is consequently very easily transmitted.

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ACOUSTICS 8

39

8/22/16

ACOUSTICS 8

40

 As regards to fireproof properties, a number

of materials such as asbestos and stag wool
are naturally incombustible and many others are
non inflammable or can be made so.
Some such as cotton wool can be chemically
treated, it has however been stated that
impregnation with chemicals does not prevent
the loose hairs on the surface from burning and
spreading a flame across the surface of the
material.
Absorptive treatment should not be positioned
on the lower parts of the walls where they
can be bruised by furniture.
8/22/16

ACOUSTICS 8

41