Sound intensity investigation of the acoustics performances of high insulation ventilating windows integrated with rolling shutter boxes

High sound insulation ventilating windows (HSIVW) were recently proposed for noise control in buildings close to motorways or railways, where noise barriers are not effective or too expensive. These windows are characterized by good insulation performances and at the same time allow airflow through the window itself; such a performance matches summer indoor ventilation and refreshment needs.In the last years at the Acoustics Laboratory of the University of Perugia various prototypes were tested and their acoustic and airflow performances were assessed, also verifying the influence of filtering systems in the aerator.In the present paper a lot of experimental data are presented and in particular the results of a recent campaign, aimed at testing windows samples integrated with insulated rolling shutter boxes are presented. Sound reduction index R and single number sound reduction index R_w are evaluated, considering different exercise conditions; acoustic intensity measurements and analysis have also been performed, in order to verify the parts of the window which need to be optimized.     

Façade noise abatement prediction: New spectrum adaptation terms measured in field in different road and railway traffic conditions

The Façade Acoustic Insulation Index is one of the most disputed parameters for residential and non-residential buildings. The real performance of the façades does not often agree with the calculated one during the design stage. The field measurement sessions are usually carried out using pink noise spectra, as suggested by the International Standards ISO 717-1. In the present paper six mean spectra derived from in field measurements were proposed: urban toads, traffic lights, roundabouts, freeways, Highways, very high speed trains, high speed trains, and low speed trains. The proposed spectra were equalized against acoustic distortion and were used to measure the noise abatements in a terraced house and in a classroom façade. The highest abatements result for spectra with high levels at high frequencies, better absorbed than low ones by façade elements and frames. The spectrum adaptation terms were also calculated both for the standard and the proposed spectra and were used to predict the façade abatements in compliance with EN ISO 12354-3: the values C_j calculated from the proposed spectra provided more reliable results than the terms C and C_tr (ISO 717-1) and represent a useful tool to predict the noise façade abatements.     

Influence of loudspeaker directivity and measurement geometry on direct acoustic levels over façades for acoustic insulation tests with the International Standard ISO 140-5

The International Standard ISO 140-5 on field measurements of airborne sound insulation of façades establishes that the directivity of the measurement loudspeaker should be such that the variation in the local direct sound pressure level (ΔSPL) on the sample is ΔSPL < 5 dB (or ΔSPL < 10 dB for large façades). This condition is usually not very easy to accomplish nor is it easy to verify whether the loudspeaker produces such a uniform level. Direct sound pressure levels on the ISO standard façade essentially depend on the distance and directivity of the loudspeaker used. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the test geometry for measuring sound insulation and explains how the loudspeaker directivity, combined with distance, affects the acoustic level distribution on the façade.The first sections of the paper are focused on analysing the measurement geometry and its influence on the direct acoustic level variations on the façade. The most favourable and least favourable positions to minimise these direct acoustic level differences are found, and the angles covered by the façade in the reference system of the loudspeaker are also determined. Then, the maximum dimensions of the façade that meet the conditions of the ISO 140-5 standard are obtained for the ideal omnidirectional sound source and the piston radiating in an infinite baffle, which is chosen as the typical radiation pattern for loudspeakers.Finally, a complete study of the behaviour of different loudspeaker radiation models (such as those usually utilised in the ISO 140-5 measurements) is performed, comparing their radiation maps on the façade for searching their maximum dimensions and the most appropriate radiation configurations.     

Procedure for verification of sound source coverage over façades according to the International Standard ISO 140–5

This paper presents a new verification procedure for sound source coverage according to ISO 140–5 requirements. The ISO 140–5 standard applies to the measurement of façade insulation and requires a sound source able to achieve a sufficiently uniform sound field in free field conditions on the façade under study. The proposed method involves the electroacoustic characterisation of the sound source in laboratory free field conditions (anechoic room) and the subsequent prediction by computer simulation of the sound free field radiated on a rectangular surface equal in size to the façade being measured. The loudspeaker is characterised in an anechoic room under laboratory controlled conditions, carefully measuring directivity, and then a computer model is designed to calculate the acoustic free field coverage for different loudspeaker positions and façade sizes. For each sound source position, the method provides the maximum direct acoustic level differences on a façade specimen and therefore determines whether the loudspeaker verifies the maximum allowed level difference of 5 dB (or 10 dB for façade dimensions greater than 5 m) required by the ISO standard. Additionally, the maximum horizontal dimension of the façade meeting the standard is calculated and provided for each sound source position, both with the 5 dB and 10 dB criteria. In the last section of the paper, the proposed procedure is compared with another method used by the authors in the past to achieve the same purpose: in situ outdoor measurements attempting to recreate free field conditions. From this comparison, it is concluded that the proposed method is able to reproduce the actual measurements with high accuracy, for example, the ground reflection effect, at least at low frequencies, which is difficult to avoid in the outdoor measurement method, and it is fully eliminated with the proposed method to achieve the free field requisite.     

Performance of a motorway noise barrier at Heston

This paper reports on the performance and costs of a 300 m long experimental noise barrier erected alongside an elevated section of the M4 motorway to protect existing two-storey housing which is as close as 20 m to the motorway. Measured reductions in L₁₀ values, at the façades of these dwellings, were around 8 dB(A) at first floor windows and around 4 dB(A) at ground floor windows. These measured reductions were based on the levels with no barrier but with some screening due to the elevation of the road.A wooden fence in the barrier position at the start of the experiment gave reductions of about 3 dB(A) at the façades of the nearby houses. The subjective impressions of the occupants showed a markedly favourable overall reaction to the change from the wooden fence to the experimental noise barrier.A reduction in the variability of the received noise levels from the partially screened situation without a barrier to the screened situation was found. There was no significant increase in noise levels for positions on the opposite side of the motorway.     

Active control of aircraft fly-over sound transmission through an open window

This paper presents an experimental work on active control of sound transmission through a restricted opening bottom hinged window. The main goal of the work is to demonstrate the feasibility of the active technique to limit the loss of attenuation due to the aperture of windows, and its application to aircraft fly-over incident noise. The experimental window is placed in an exposed façade of a dwelling close to an airport and subject to fly-by aircraft noise. The active control is configured to cancel the pressure at the aperture using a single-input single-output feedforward adaptive system. As a result, a reduction of sound transmission is achieved with low power consumption. In global terms, an increase of almost 3 dB of transmission loss (with respect to the partially opened window insulation values) in the low frequency range (below 160 Hz and according to the National Danish Method for evaluating low frequency noise) is demonstrated, which is equivalent to a reduction of 50% in the loss of insulation caused by opening the window.     

Simulating the effect of acoustic treatment types for residential balconies with road traffic noise

Development of design guides to estimate the difference in speech interference level due to road traffic noise between a reference position and balcony position or façade position is explored. A previously established and validated theoretical model incorporating direct, specular and diffuse reflection paths is used to create a database of results across a large number of scenarios. Nine balcony types with variable acoustic treatments are assessed to provide acoustic design guidance on optimised selection of balcony acoustic treatments based on location and street type. In total, the results database contains 9720 scenarios on which multivariate linear regression is conducted in order to derive an appropriate design guide equation. The best fit regression derived is a multivariable linear equation including modified exponential equations on each of nine deciding variables, (1) diffraction path difference, (2) ratio of total specular energy to direct energy, (3) distance loss between reference position and receiver position, (4) distance from source to balcony façade, (5) height of balcony floor above street, (6) balcony depth, (7) height of opposite buildings, (8) diffusion coefficient of buildings and (9) balcony average absorption. Overall, the regression correlation coefficient, R², is 0.89 with 95% confidence standard error of ±3.4 dB.     

Development of multiple drywall with high sound insulation performance

Experimental studies for the development of multiple drywalls with a high sound insulation performance are performed. Firstly, a means of preventing the sound insulation deterioration due to the coincidence effect at high frequencies is investigated by layering two plasterboards with different physical characteristics. Based on the results, a double drywall with a sound insulation performance of R_w = 61 is developed. Further more, a double drywall of R_w = 64 , a triple drywall of R_w = 86 and a quadruple drywall of R_w = 90 are developed.     

Development of a 3D finite element acoustic model to predict the sound reduction index of stud based double-leaf walls

Building standards incorporating quantitative acoustical criteria to ensure adequate sound insulation are now being implemented. Engineers are making great efforts to design acoustically efficient double-wall structures. Accordingly, efficient simulation models to predict the acoustic insulation of double-leaf wall structures are needed. This paper presents the development of a numerical tool that can predict the frequency dependent sound reduction index R of stud based double-leaf walls at one-third-octave band frequency range. A fully vibro-acoustic 3D model consisting of two rooms partitioned using a double-leaf wall, considering the structure and acoustic fluid coupling incorporating the existing fluid and structural solvers are presented. The validity of the finite element (FE) model is assessed by comparison with experimental test results carried out in a certified laboratory. Accurate representation of the structural damping matrix to effectively predict the R values are studied. The possibilities of minimising the simulation time using a frequency dependent mesh model was also investigated. The FEA model presented in this work is capable of predicting the weighted sound reduction index R_w along with A-weighted pink noise C and A-weighted urban noise C_tr within an error of 1 dB. The model developed can also be used to analyse the acoustically induced frequency dependent geometrical behaviour of the double-leaf wall components to optimise them for best acoustic performance. The FE modelling procedure reported in this paper can be extended to other building components undergoing fluid–structure interaction (FSI) to evaluate their acoustic insulation.     

Justification of standardized level differences in rating of airborne sound insulation between dwellings

It has long been recognized that single-number quantities R′_w, D_nT,w or D_n,w result in different conclusions in objective rating of airborne sound insulation between dwellings. The difference between the values of these single-number quantities (SNQ), however, does not prove which of them describes the sound transmission between rooms most correctly. The main object of this article was to study which SNQ correspond best with transmitted living sound levels in buildings when reverberation time, volume of receiving room and sound insulation are taken into account. Data of 100 field measurements of airborne sound insulation were collected as well as 207 reverberation times of furnished rooms. The transmitted sound levels of living sounds were evaluated on the basis of known living sound spectra and measured level differences D. The results show that the SNQs standardized to reference reverberation time of 0.5 s lead in all cases to best correlation between the SNQs and the sound levels of transmitted living sounds. It was also checked whether the rating by D_nT,w would lead to higher transmitted sound levels of living sounds in larger rooms, but this was not detected. The use of D_nT,w makes rooms of different volumes equal in regard to required sound insulation between them. It is thus justified to replace R′_w with D_nT,w as the SNQ for rating the airborne sound insulation. Widening the frequency range down to 50 Hz or up to 5000 Hz did not give noteworthy improvement in the correlation.     

Airborne sound insulation and graphical indices

The use of graphical indices is interpreted as an approximate approach to the estimation of sound insulation performance of building elements. Differences of weighted sound pressure levels are considered as quantitative measures for subjective sound insulation. The indices considered are formed by shifting a reference curve until the highest position is found at which certain specifications, or rules, are met. General expressions are mathematically derived for the maximum differences between graphical indices and sound insulation in two cases: a maximum allowable sum rule for unfavourable deviations, and a combination for restriction of the maximum single deviation. The results indicate that the maximum deviation rule limits the variation between sound insulation and indices in a very efficient way. This comparison leads to I_a being preferred to R_w, which are special cases of the study.     

Study of the uncertainty of façade sound insulation measurements: Analysis of the ISO 12999-1 uncertainty proposal

The result of a measurement is an approximation of the true value of the measurand and is complete when it is accompanied by its uncertainty. Building acoustics requires an assessment of the uncertainties that is understandable and corresponds closely to reality. The new standard ISO 12999-1 gives general uncertainty values for typical sound insulation measurements. The objective of this work is to determine the most accurate method for evaluating the uncertainty of in situ façade sound insulation measurements for both the D_ls,2m,nT values in one-third octave bands and the global magnitude D_ls,2m,nT,w. We establish a comparative analysis between the uncertainty values proposed by the standard ISO 12999-1, the uncertainty values deduced from interlaboratory activities and the average uncertainties deduced from individual calculations for each in situ measurement. The comparison is based on uncertainty calculations for around 1000 in situ façade sound insulation measurements made by our laboratory. The uncertainties given by the standard ISO 12999-1 for D_ls,2m,nT in one-third octave bands are, at low and high frequencies, higher than the values deduced from individual calculations and smaller than the calculated values at mid frequencies. We believe that for D_ls,2m,nT, it is advisable wherever possible to make individual uncertainty calculations for each in situ façade measurement. Nevertheless, the comparison with ISO 12999-1 points to the suitability of including some uncertainty components in the calculation, such as the related to the measurement procedure or source directivity, which are not normally considered in the uncertainty evaluation. Although we have clearly endorsed the use of individual calculations to determine the uncertainty of the sound insulation magnitude in one-third octave bands, we believe the uncertainty proposed by standard ISO 12999-1 could be a more realistic and reasonable approximation for the global magnitude D_ls,2m,nT,w. Therefore if an individual calculation of the uncertainty of the global magnitude is required the Monte Carlo simulation has been shown to be a good method.     

Determination and imaging of binder remnants and aggregates in historic cement stone by Raman microscopy

We present to our knowledge the first application of Raman microscopic imaging to cementitious materials. This technique yielded the composition and phase distribution (spatial resolution ≈ 500 nm) in samples of cement stone taken from façade elements of four Swiss buildings covering the period of 1892–1924. Raman maps of Roman cement, a predecessor of modern Portland cement, reveal the chemical heterogeneity of clinker remnants consisting of various crystalline, polymorphic, and amorphous phases and visualize different crystal orientations. Our findings include the observation of the γ‐polymorph of Ca₂SiO₄ – previously, only detected in Portland cement – and Raman spectra of calcium aluminate (ferrite) interstitial phases in Roman cement showing significant differences to the corresponding phases in Portland cement clinker. Furthermore, calcite, vaterite, gypsum, and ettringite were identified in the rim of a nonhydrated residual nodule. Beyond binder remnants, aggregates in the form of spherical (≤500 µm diameter) slag and irregularly shaped pigment particles were analyzed. Here, we focused on the unambiguous identification of compounds in complex matrices by comparing sample spectra with database and own reference spectra. A Raman map collected on blast furnace slag in cement stone shows the spatial distribution of calcite, quartz glass and pyrite. Furthermore, several Fe‐containing, Si‐containing, and Pb‐containing phases were identified. The analysis of pigments partly confirmed and partly contradicted the bequeathed historic recipe of a cement stone façade. These results have direct implications in the field of conservation and restoration and generally demonstrate the potential of Raman imaging to provide deeper understanding of (historic) building materials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental study on the effect of rolling shutters and shutter boxes on the airborne sound insulation of windows

The façade of a room is usually composed of different construction elements, one of which is the window. This fulfils both an aesthetic function and closes the wall opening. In order to improve thermal behaviour and control solar radiation, the window is fitted with different protection features, such as the shutter. In climate zones with many hours of sunlight, windows in residential buildings commonly incorporate a rolling shutter. Traffic noise and higher standards of energy saving, comfort, durability and sustainability in buildings means that windows now have to comply with stricter requirements, including their sound insulation from airborne noise. This work contains a summary of studies carried out on the sound insulation from airborne noise in several types of windows (double side-hung casement and double horizontal sliding sash) with built-on shutter and prefabricated box. For each type of window, an analysis was made of the effects of the interior finishings in the shutter box, the shutter position (whether fully retracted or extended) and the weighted sound reduction index of windows for traffic noise in accordance with EN ISO 717-1.     

Resonator effects in window frames

Measurements of the traffic noise reduction of façades comprising casement windows showed dips in the performance at frequencies below the critical frequency. The application of the Gomperts theory on the resonance of slits was found to require unrealistic assumptions for the dimensions of the transmission paths around the windows. An alternative explanation based on the theory of Helmholtz resonators is proposed, and tested empirically by carrying out a series of measurements using a metal casement window. Changes in the gap widths and volume of the cavity within the frame produced changes in the frequency for the dip in agreement with the assumption of a Helmholtz resonator effect.     

NMR determination of topological structure and self-diffusion of linear polymers

A general approach is proposed to calculate the attenuation of spin echo diffusion and the self-diffusion coefficients D of linear polymers with different average molecular weights M _w . It was shown that the changes in the topological structure of linear polymers resulted from the formation of a physical entanglement network at M _w > 10⁵ are responsible for the experimentally observed anomalous diffusion D(M _w ).     

A novel enzyme-assisted ultrasonic approach for highly efficient extraction of resveratrol from Polygonum cuspidatum

Resveratrol is a promising multi-biofunctional phytochemical, which is abundant in Polygonum cuspidatum. Several methods for resveratrol extraction have been reported, while they often take a long extraction time accompanying with poor extraction yield. In this study, a novel enzyme-assisted ultrasonic approach for highly efficient extraction of resveratrol from P. cuspidatum was developed. According to results, the resveratrol yield significantly increased after glycosidases (Pectinex® or Viscozyme®) were applied in the process of extraction, and better extraction efficacy was found in the Pectinex®-assisted extraction compared to Viscozyme®-assisted extraction. Following, a 5-level-4-factor central composite rotatable design with response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) was selected to model and optimize the Pectinex®-assisted ultrasonic extraction. Based on the coefficient of determination (R²) calculated from the design data, ANN model displayed much more accurate in data fitting as compared to RSM model. The optimum conditions for the extraction determined by ANN model were substrate concentration of 5%, acoustic power of 150 W, pH of 5.4, temperature of 55 °C, the ratio of enzyme to substrate of 3950 polygalacturonase units (PGNU)/g of P. cuspidatum, and reaction time of 5 h, which can lead to a significantly high resveratrol yield of 11.88 mg/g.