CONTENT

1. Basics of Sound and Noise

1.1 Properties
1.2 Noise Level Scales and formulations
1.3 Frequency Analysis
2. Noise measurement and Analysis Tools
2.1 Brief introduction of Instruments required
2.2 Measurement Softwares
2.3 Sound Camera
3. Techniques of Noise Reduction
3.1 Source analysis
3.2 General practice
3.3 Active Noise control
1 4. Bibliography
 WHAT IS A SOUND?
 Sound is a physical phenomenon that stimulates the sense of hearing.
 Sound, a manifestation of vibration, travels in wave patterns through solids, liquids and gases.
 It is a form of energy which is emitted by a vibrating body and on reaching in the ear causes the
sensation of hearing through nerves

Sound waves of equal amplitude with increasing frequency from top to bottom. 

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 NATURE OF SOUND
Volume of sound (noise level)
Pressu

 Pressure change level: Sound pressure [Pa]

A
re

 We convert it into a sound pressure level [dB] and use it for an evaluation.

Volume of sound (noise level)

Frequency: F = 1/T Audible range
T (No. of vibrations in one second) Human being: 20Hz - 20kHz
Pressu

High frequency: Short More than 20kHz ： Ultra sonic freq.

re

Low frequency: Long 20Hz or less ： Infrasonic frequency

Reflection Transmission3 Diffraction

WHAT IS NOISE?
 Sound that feels uncomfortable  Unpleasant
 Too loud sound  Noisy
 Unnecessary sound  Un-necessary

It depends on Judgment call of the person who

heard a sound

 It is changed at "place" "time" by "a feeling"

 Sometimes little sound and music become the noise, too

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 SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL (dB)
Basic measurements decibels [dB] is used to express the loudness of sound
Actual Sound pressure: P [Pa]
Sound pressure standard value: P0[Pa]
(the human smallest audible value)

Since human audible range varies from 20 μ [Pa] - 20 [Pa] (six digit variation), it is easier to convert sound pressure into
Sound Pressure level 0-120 [dB] range which has only 3 digit variation.

Pressure (Pa) deciBels(dB)

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NOISE LEVEL LA [dB(A)]
Human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible
range. A sound at one frequency may seem louder than one of equal
pressure amplitude at a different frequency.

Equal Loudness curve (sensitivity curve) Frequency weighting curve

It is a curve that connects the sound pressure Curve approximating the loudness curve,
level that the human ear hears with the same Weighted by curve of A characteristic is noise level
magnitude to the frequency.

Relative response
(dB)
Loudness in dB
Sound pressure [dB]

Frequency (Hz)
Defined in the sound level meter standards (IEC 60651, IEC 60804, IEC
61672, ANSI S1.4)
 A properties: It is 40dB at 40phons @1000Hz
Min. audible value  C properties: It is 100dB at 100phons @1000Hz
by binaural
(used for Peak measurements above 100dB and also in some entertainment
noise measurement)
 Z properties (P): There is no revision
Frequency (Hz)
EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL LAeq[dB(A)]
Average energy value of noise, within measurement time, are the values
commonly used for noise evaluation.
It is also used for noise assessment of many machineries.

P(t) Sound pressure

Equivalent noise level definition
P 2 t  
P0 The sound pressure
 1 t2 standard value
LAeq  10 log10   2
dt 
 t 2  t1 P0
t1 t1 Start of measurement time
 t2 End of measurement time
T Integral calculus time
Noise level

Equivalent noise level LAeq

t1 T t2 Time
SOUND POWER LEVEL LwA[dB(A)]
 The energy sum of the sound radiated from the sound source (target machine) per unit time is
called the acoustic power W
 Like the noise level, the level with respect to the reference value is set as the sound power level
LwA
 It is used as regulation value for machineries
Calculation method ： JIS Z 8733
Set hemispherical / rectangular parallelepiped covering the object to be measured
→ We calculate the total energy of the sound passing through a hemisphere / rectangular
parallelepiped
→ Set multiple measurement points on a hemispherical surface and rectangular parallelepiped,
calculate the equivalent noise level at that position and the area of the hemisphere / rectangular
parallelepiped

LAeq ： Mean noise level of the measurement point (construction machinery: six points)
S: logarithmic value of the surface area of the measuring hemisphere
(construction machine: 10 m (28 dB) & 16 m (32 dB))
SOUND POWER LEVEL LwA[dB(A)]
W = ΣI ・ ΔS
ΣI ・ ΔS
LWA = 10 log z
Sound intensity in a small area: I
S0I0 [dB]

(ΣI/n) ΣΔS
= 10 log + 10 log S0
Small area
I0 ΔS

dθ
θ
P2 ΔS = 2πr2 ／ n
I= Sound
ρC S0= 1 Source
y
x φ dφ

= 20 log(ΣP)/n
r
+ 10 log (2πr2)
P0
9 LAeq S
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Example of Frequency analysis result
level [dB(A)]
騒音レベル[d(A)]

① Periodic peak sound

 Can judge the
Periodic pressure fluctuation by noise source
rotating parts  Measures for
Noise

Ex. Pump pulsation, fan, etc. noise sources

Frequency
周波数[Hz](Hz)

 Investigation of
騒音レベル[dB(A)]
Noise level [dB(A)]

②Peak sound resonance /

· Cover resonance resonance part
· Resonance in closed space  Vibration proof
support, shape
周波数[Hz]
Frequency (Hz)
change
騒音レベル[dB(A)]
Noise level [dB(A)]

③Broadband Noise
· Fan wind noise
· Muffler airflow sound etc.  Sound in and out

周波数[Hz]
Frequency (Hz)
 FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Periodic peak sound: typical periodic noise source of a construction machine

Engine explosion sound Engine’s speed X (number of the cylinders /2) X n

(Suction / exhaust sound) Fn = 60
Engine’s speed X no. of pistons X n
Pump pulsation sound Fn = 60

Fan sound Engine speed X number of fins X pulley ratio X n

(pulley) Fn = 60

Fan sound Engine speed X number of fins X n

(Engine mounted) Fn = 60

Engine speed X no. of gear teeth X speed reduction ratio X n

Gear pump sound Fn = 60

n = 1, 2, 3…
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS: Sonometers
Precision sound-level Timbal Void
meter Microphone Timbal
Back pole

Insulator

Case
Microphone internal
structure example

Measurement level

Range of measurement

Measurement time

Unit of volume of sound + frequency revision

 L (noise level) ・ P: Flat
 Leq (equivalent noise level) ・ A: A properties
12 ・ C: C properties
 Lmax (maximum noise level)
 MEASURING INSTRUMENTS SETUP
Pin-BNC cable

Notebook PC
Precision sound-level
AD converter meter

AC connector

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MEASURES TO REDUCE NOISE IN A MACHINE
Opening improvement
 Optimization of opening position
 Installation of louvers
 Installation of sound absorbing duct

Structural vibration
Resonance (Chatter etc.)
Sound field
Material
Sound Absorption
improvement Vibration

System Vibration
 Attenuation of improvement
radiated sound

Material
· Vibration mode
 Resonance mode · Change of structure
improvement Vibration source / · Change material
 Change of spatial sound source
shape

Vibration propagation
 Reduction of excitation force
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 Optimization of installation position
 ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL

Design Considerations Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The active noise cancellation system implements the acoustically adaptive algorithm that cancels the unwanted
sound by generating an antisound (antinoise( of equal amplitude and opposite phase. The original, unwanted
sound and the antinoise acoustically combine, resulting in the cancellation of both sounds.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Fundamentals of Acoustics by Lawrence E. Kinsler, Austin R. Frey, Alan B. Coppens, and James V.
Sanders
 
2. GIAN Video Lectures on Acoustics and Industrial Noise Control by Prof. Amiya R. Mohanty
Mechanical Engineering Department Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
 
3. Reference from Knowledge database of Design Department, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
co. ltd..
 
4. JIS 8733, Acoustics - Determination of sound power levels of noise sources using sound pressure -
Engineering method in an essentially free field over a reflecting plane
 

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Thank you!

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