ROOM ACOUSTICS

• Sound waves will propagate away from the source until they encounter one
of the room's boundaries where, in general, some of the sound energy w ill
be reflected back into the room, some will be absorbed and some will be
transmitted through the boundary.
• The complex sound field produced by the multitude of reflections and the
behaviour of this sound field as the sound energy in the room is allowed to
build up and decay constitutes the acoustics of the room.
GEOMETRICAL ROOM ACOUSTICS
• If one can assume that the
dimensions of a room are large
compared to the wavelength of
sound then one may treat the sound
waves in the room in much the same
way as light rays are treated in
geometrical optics.
• In analogy with light rays, sound rays
are reflected from hard plane walls in
accordance with the laws of
reflection
i.e. the incident ray, the reflected
ray and the normal to the surface at the
point of incidence all lie in the same
plane; the angle of incidence is equal to
the angle of reflection.
 GEOMETRICAL ROOM ACOUSTICS
• Therefore sound rays incident on a curved surface will either be focused or
dispersed depending on whether the surface is concave or convex.
• Diffraction of sound rays can and does occur but the effect is more noticeable
for low frequency, long wavelength sounds than with high frequency sounds of
short wavelength.
Graphical construction of the first reflections of the sound waves in a concert hall
 SOUND- ABSORPTIVE
MATERIALS
•The rate at which the sound is absorbed in a room is a
prime factor in reducing noise and controlling
reverberation.
•The sound is absorbed by a mechanism which
converts the sound into other forms of energy and
ultimately into heat.
•Most manufactured materials depend largely on their
porosity for their absorptivity.
•Many materials such as mineral wools, pads and
blankets , have a multitude of small deeply penetrating
intercommunicating pores.

•When a sound wave strikes a panel, the alternating

pressure of these waves against the panel may force
it into vibration.
•The resulting flexural vibrations use up a certain
amount of the incident sound energy by converting
it into heat.
•If the panel is massive and stiff, the amount of
acoustical energy converted into mechanical energy
will be less and if the panel is light and flexible,
more energy will be absorbed.
•Absorption by porous materials normally is large at
high frequencies and small at low frequencies.
•Absorption by panel vibration is small at high
frequencies but may be large at low frequencies.
•By using these materials in proper proportions, it is
possible to control the absorption of sound throughout
the audible range of frequencies.
RATING OF ACOUSTICAL ABSORPTIVITY OF MATERIALS
•The efficiency of a material in absorbing acoustical energy at a specified frequency is given by its
absorption coefficient at that frequency.
•This quantity is the fractional part of the sound wave that is absorbed by the material.
•For eg: if a sound wave strikes a material, and if 55% of the incident acoustical energy is absorbed and
45% is reflected, the absorption coefficient of the material is 0.55.
•A Sabin is a measure of the sound absorption of a surface.
•A surface of area S having an absorption coefficient α has a total absorption of Sα.
• The coefficient of absorption varies with the angle of at which the wave strikes the material.

TYPES OF ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS

Most commercially available acoustical materials are included in one of the three following
categories:
(1) Prefabricated units- acoustical tile, mechanically perforated units backed with absorbent
material, certain wall boards, tile boards and acoustical sheets.

(2) Acoustical Plaster and Sprayed –On Materials- comprise of plastic and porous materials applied
with a trowel and fibrous materials, combined with binder agents, which are applied with an air
gun or blower.

(3) Acoustical Blankets- made up of mineral or wood wool, glass fibers, kapok batts and hair felt.
 PREFABRICATED UNITS-

(1) Type I – cast units having a pitted or granular –

appearing surface.
 Class A. All mineral units composed of small granules
or finely divided particles with Portland cement binder.
• The masonry-like surface appearance of the units makes
them particularly suited for installation in buildings of
the monumental type and in some church.
• These tiles are rated as incombustible.
• Eg: Akoustolith- a porous ceramic material resembling
stone.
 Class B. All mineral units composed of small granules
or finely divided particles with lime or gypsum binder.

 Class C. Units composed of small granules or finely

divided particles of mineral or vegetable origin with
incombustible mineral binder.
 PREFABRICATED UNITS-

(2) Type II –units having mechanically perforated surface:

the perforations to be arranged in a regular pattern.
 Class A. Units having a perforated surface which acts
as a covering and support for the sound absorbent
material.
• The facing material to be strong and durable and
substantially rigid.
• In this type an absorptive pad, blanket or rigid element
is covered by perforated sheet metal or board.
• Can be painted repeatedly without impairing their
absorption.
• Many are moisture resistant and hence find application
in swimming pools, kitchens etc.
 PREFABRICATED UNITS-

(2) Type II –
 Class B. Units having circular perforations extending into
the sound absorbent material.
• The facing material to be strong and durable and
substantially rigid.
• In this type of units they have large perforations and
therefore are especially serviceable in installations that
require frequent redecoration.
• Eg: acousti-celotex cane tile
• Acousti-celotex mineral tile
• Acoustifibre
• Cushionstone
• Fibretone
 Class C. Units having slots or grooves extending into the
sound absorbent material.

(3) Type III – units having fissured surface.

• This include tiles differing widely in composition.
• Some consist of filaments or mineral wool granules; in
others, vermiculite or cork is the principal ingredients.
• Absorption principle is similar to that of other perforatured
materials.
 PREFABRICATED UNITS-

(2) Type IV – Units having a felted fiber surface.

 Class A. Units composed of long wood fibers.
• Units in this class are made of wood shavings or excelsior,
generally pressed together with mineral binder.
• The wood fibers may be fine, medium or coarse.
 Class B. Units composed of fine felted vegetable fibers or
wood pulp.
• Small tiles and acoustical fiber boards.
• Are not fire proof.
• Low cost
• Manufactured in large panels, 4ft wide and 8,10 or 12 ft
long.
• Oil, lead and other non-porous paints will close the surface
pores of the material and hence destroy the absorptive
value.
 ACOUSTICAL PLASTER AND SPRAYED-ON
MATERIALS

• The use of selected types of acoustical plastic materials has

proved highly satisfactory for the treatment of offices,
school rooms, corridors, and many public buildings.
• Used in most places where ordinary lime or gypsum plaster
can be used without altering the architectural effects.
• Have deficiencies in regard to cleaning and decorating.
• Its absoptivity is dependent on its thickness and
composition and on the manner in which it is applied and
dried.
• As the thickness is increased, the absorptivity increases,
particularly at low frequencies.
• If too much binder material is used , the plaster is not
sufficiently porous.
• If insufficient amount of binder is used, the plaster does not
set hard and its tensile strength may be less than that
required for adequate structural bond; under such
circumstances, it may dust or pop off the wall.
 ACOUSTICAL PLASTER AND SPRAYED-ON MATERIALS

(1) Type I – Acoustic Plaster.

• Composed of cementations material such as gypsum, Portland cement, or lime with or without
an aggregate.
(2)Type II. Acoustical materials other than acoustical plaster which are applied with a trowel.
(3)Type III.
• Fibrous materials combined with a binder agent and which are applied by being sprayed on with
an air gun or blower.

 ACOUSTICAL BLANKETS
• Mineral wool, hair felt, wood fibre and glass fibre.
• Thickness of these blankets are generally between1/2 and 4 inches, blankets of greater thickness
are sometimes used in special applications.
• More absorptive in the low-frequency range.
• The absorption coefficient of a blanket mounted against a wall depends on its density and
thickness and on the frequency of the incident sound.
• The effect of an air space behind a blanket is, in general, to increase its absorption at low
frequencies.
 Perforated facing
• A perforated facing such as plywood, matel or fiber board constitutes a very practical covering
for an acoustical blankets.
• This type of facing has an advantage that it can be easily cleaned and decorated and repeated
painting does not reduce its absorptivity.
 Mounting Acoustical Materials