Acoustic

ARCHITECTURAL
ACOUSTICS
 Acoustics in building design is the science of
sound and noise control.
 For better communication, good acoustical
quality has a major importance in a building
design to create good hearing conditions and
for the functioning of its intended use. There
are lot of issues involved in the complex job of
creating good environment in building. One of
the critical factors to be always considered is
building acoustics.
 ARCHITECTURAL ACOUTICS
 Building is an enclosed place; for better speech and
communication. So enclosed space intended for
this purpose should be designed to achieve the
following main objectives.
 The sound source should be loud enough.
 The sound should be properly diffused.
 There should be optimum reverberation.
 There should be no echoes or other acoustical
distortions.
 Source should be loud enough to be heard above
noise level.
 What is sound ?

 Sound has two definitions

 Physically It is a fluctuation in pressure, a
particle displacement in an elastic medium
like AIR, WATER, BUILDING MATERAIL.
This is objective sound.
 Physiologically, it is an auditory sensation
evoked by the physical fluctuation. This is
subjective sound.
• Sound is a form of energy that
travels in waves.
• Sound— Longitudinal Wave
Vibration: back and forth motion
a. There can not be sound if there is not any
vibration
b. Most vibrations are too fast for you to see.
c. Vibrations require energy—sound is a form
of energy

Compressions :The close together part of the

Rarefactions The spread-out parts
of a wave
 Transverse waves : wave particles vibrate in an up-and-down
motion.

Longitudinal Wave:
Vibration moves back and forth
motion
• When something vibrates molecules in the air crowd
together, then spread apart, causing sound waves to
travel away from the vibrating object.

• Physically It is a fluctuation in pressure, a particle

displacement in an elastic medium like AIR,
WATER, BUILDING MATERAIL. This is objective
sound
Solid : Fast speed
Liquid : Medium speed
Gas : Slow Speed
Vacuum : No Sound
Sound and Noise
• Sound originates from a vibrating body.

• Noise is nothing but unwanted sound.

Spherical nature of sound

A. Sound vibrations occur in waves that
go out in every direction like a circle.
1. Sound waves are created by
repeated patterns of molecules
spreading apart and squeezing
together.
Amplitude: The average maximum distance of a particle from its
mean position is called amplitude.
Cycle: Vibrating particle completes one to and fro displacement
about its mean equilibrium position is known as one cycle.
Frequency: Repetition rate of a cycle, the number of cycles per
second.
wavelength :is the horizontal
length of one cycle of the wave
 Nature of sound wave
Pure tone (sign curve)
.when Tp in compression
and rarefaction
Is same it is pure tone

Complex Sound
when Tp in compression
and rarefaction changes
it is complex
Velocity of Sound( speed)
• The speed at which the sound waves travel or pass through
any medium is velocity.
• It depends on type of medium and temperature.
• It is affected by temperature of air, intensity of wind
• It is different for different medium

Frequency: Repetition rate of a cycle, the number of cycles per second.

• Frequency is measure of the quality of sound.
• Frequency is measured in cycles per seconds or hertz(Hz)
• Human hearing ranges from 20 Hz to 20000Hz.
• The lower limit indicates the frequency which is required for an average
human ear to perceive the sound is lost and distinct pulses are
experienced. e.g when frequency is below 20 cycles /sec effect of
sound is lost.
• If frequency is more then wavelength is less or vice-versa
• Frequency can be different thou the two sounds may be of same
intensity.
• Wavelength: the physical distance travel in air from one
point to other in time t

PROPERTIES OF SOUND : A characterstic of sound

1. Intensity of sound-loudness
2. Frequency
3. Quality
1.Sound Intensity
• Frequency is measure of the quality of sound where as
intensity is measure of quantity of sound energy.
• Sound intensity is nothing but the rate of flow of sound
energy through a unit area normal to it, and measured in
watts/cm2.
• Intensity is physical quantity and can be measured whereas
loudness is partly subjective….depends on listener.
• In acoustical problems the sound intensity is expressed by
another convenient unit called decibel (dB) which is 1/10 of
bel unit.
• Intensity of sound is a physical measurement of a sound that
relates to how loud sound is perceived.
• Leaf falling 8/9 decibels,paper tearing is 10 db.
• Printing press-80 db,boiler factory-110 db,aeroplane-130 db
3.Quality or timbre
• Is the characteristic which enables us to distinguish between
two notes of same pitch and loudness played on two different
instruments or produced by two different voices
• E.g the notes given by piano and cornet .they may have same
pitch and intensity,are distuiguished by human ear.
• The quality of a muscial note is called its timbre.
• A tone is a sound of distinct pitch ,the musical notes are
composed of tones,the pitch of the note being corresponding to
lowest tone it contains.
• The tone having frequency ‘n’ is called the fundamental tone.
• The additional tones o frequency is 2n,3n,4n are called
overtones.
• The notes are strong and overtones are few
When overtones increases and strong ,it becomes harsh
Sound Measurement
• Frequency and intensity of sound is measured by mechanical
instrument since they are physical quantities
• We can hear 130db sound ,above it we will have deafness.
• E.g workers in factory where intensity of sound is 80db above
continuous working will suffer in herper tension,blood pressure

• Necessity of measurement of sound

• To improve building acoustics –e.g concert halls ,thearters
• To avoid hearing damage and to take corrective measures
To evaluate hearing sensitivity of an individual
To get correct and scientific analysis of annoying sound
To reduce noise level.
• A sound inside a building is 40db
• E.g Audotirum 35 db,hospital- 40 db
• Sound level for different building is different
• There is enviromental law for it.noise pollution
• refer N.B.C sector 4
• RATING O INTENSITY OF SOUND
• common sound average threshold of feeling
Rustle of leaves,sound proof room 10 very very faint
Private office 30 very faint
average office,quiet radio 50 moderate
Noisy office 70 loud
,street
Factory 90 very loud
Aeroplanes at dist 4m 130 painful
Components of sound
• Reflection
• Absorption
• Transmission

• When sound comes back to source

• is reflection
• When sound goes beyond is transmission
• And some sound is absorbed by material.

• 1st sound wave that touches the surface(any)

is called incident sound
• Soft and porous material absorb maxmium sound.
• Thin barrier are very good transmitters
• Curve surface reflect maximum sound.

• Absorption:
• Sound energy is converted into heat energy by material and then it is absorpted.
• Energy never dies it get converted
• Sound energy ---- eletromagnetic energy
• Since Reflection , Absorption, Transmission takes place at same time it is complex
 Behavior of sound in an enclosed space
1. Incident Sound
2. Reflected Sound
3. Sound Absorbed by surface
treatment
4. Sound Diffusion
5. Diffracted Sound
6. Transmitted Sound
7. Absorbed by structure
8. Transmitted through structure
REFLECTION FROM DIFFIRENT SURFACES

a) Reflection fron plain surface

b) Reflection from convex surface
c) Reflection from concave surface
 Velocity(v) of a wave= Frequency(f) times the wavelength (l)
. V = f x l.
The speed of propagation of sound in dry air at a temperature of 0° C (32° F) is
331.6 m/sec (1088 ft/sec). If the temperature is increased, the speed of sound
increases; thus, at 20° C (68° F), the velocity of sound is 344 m/sec (1129 ft/sec)

• Any oscillating object has a natural frequency, which is the frequency an

oscillating object tends to settle into if it is not disturbed.
• The phenomenon in which a relatively small, repeatedly applied force causes
the amplitude of an oscillating system to become very large is called resonance
Sound Reflection and Absorption
A. Reflected sound is called an echo.
1. The vibrations are reflecting back to you.
B. Soft, air-filled objects absorb sound.
1. When sound is absorbed, you do not hear it because it
is not reflected back to you.
Reverb (Electronic echo)
Resonance
electronic envelope Helmholtz Resonator, spherical vessel of
metal or glass with an opening and an earpiece on opposite
sides.
The ear canal acts enhancing frequencies in the range from 1000 to
4000 Hz (hertz, or cycles per second).
Speed of Sound
Velocity(v) of a wave= Frequency (f) times the wavelength (l)
V=fl
The speed of propagation of sound in dry air at a temperature of 0° C
(32° F) is 331.6 m/sec (1088 ft/sec). If the temperature is increased,
the speed of sound increases; thus, at 20° C (68° F), the velocity of
sound is 344 m/sec (1129 ft/sec)

• Any oscillating object has a natural frequency, which is the

frequency an oscillating object tends to settle into if it is not
disturbed.
• The phenomenon in which a relatively small, repeatedly applied
force causes the amplitude of an oscillating system to become very
large is called resonance