Sound propagation in street canyons: comparison between diffusely and geometrically reflecting boundaries

This paper systematically compares the sound fields in street canyons with diffusely and geometrically reflecting boundaries. For diffuse boundaries, a radiosity-based theoretical/computer model has been developed. For geometrical boundaries, the image source method has been used. Computations using the models show that there are considerable differences between the sound fields resulting from the two kinds of boundaries. By replacing diffuse boundaries with geometrical boundaries, the sound attenuation along the length becomes significantly less; the RT30 is considerably longer; and the extra attenuation caused by air or vegetation absorption is reduced. There are also some similarities between the sound fields under the two boundary conditions. For example, in both cases the sound attenuation along the length with a given amount of absorption is the highest if the absorbers are arranged on one boundary and the lowest if they are evenly distributed on all boundaries. Overall, the results suggest that, from the viewpoint of urban noise reduction, it is better to design the street boundaries as diffusely reflective rather than acoustically smooth.     

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF THE SOUND FIELDS IN URBAN STREETS WITH DIFFUSELY REFLECTING BOUNDARIES

A radiosity-based theoretical/computer model has been developed to study the fundamental characteristics of the sound fields in urban streets resulting from diffusely reflecting boundaries, and to investigate the effectiveness of architectural changes and urban design options on noise reduction. Comparison between the theoretical prediction and the measurement in a scale model of an urban street shows very good agreement. Computations using the model in hypothetical rectangular streets demonstrate that though the boundaries are diffusely reflective, the sound attenuation along the length is significant, typically at 20-30 dB/100 m. The sound distribution in a cross-section is generally even unless the cross-section is very close to the source. In terms of the effectiveness of architectural changes and urban design options, it has been shown that over 2-4 dB extra attenuation can be obtained either by increasing boundary absorption evenly or by adding absorbent patches on the façades or the ground. Reducing building height has a similar effect. A gap between buildings can provide about 2-3 dB extra sound attenuation, especially in the vicinity of the gap. The effectiveness of air absorption on increasing sound attenuation along the length could be 3-9 dB at high frequencies. If a treatment is effective with a single source, it is also effective with multiple sources. In addition, it has been demonstrated that if the façades in a street are diffusely reflective, the sound field of the street does not change significantly whether the ground is diffusely or geometrically reflective.     

Study on sound propagation in long enclosures with a vertical or inclined branch of different dimensions

As there may be some branches in long enclosures, such as high-speed railway and freeway tunnels, it will make a difference in the sound propagation in long enclosures if we give more consideration to different designs of the branches at the onset of their construction. However, most researches on the sound propagation in long enclosures available are concerned with straight long enclosures. In this paper, the sound pressure level (SPL) attenuation, early decay time (EDT), and reverberation time (RT30) of long enclosures with a vertical or inclined branch of different dimensions have been studied by comparing experimental results from physical scale models of such enclosures with those of the straight long enclosure. This experimental investigation gives interesting results on the behavior of sound propagation in long enclosures with a vertical or inclined branch of different dimensions. When conducting engineering design for long tunnels of the high-speed railway or freeway, it would be appropriate to consider designing the branch of the tunnels into a widened left inclined or right inclined one to provide a better relative SPL than that of other branches with different dimensions. This study further reveals that with an inclined branch of different dimensions, the EDT of the long enclosure will be different. At both 500 and 1000 Hz 1/3 octave bands, the EDT is the shortest when the long enclosure has a left inclined branch and an extended left inclined branch, while the EDT is the longest when the long enclosure has a widened vertical branch. Generally speaking, in the near field (i.e. the source-receiver distance is shorter than the threshold distance), the EDT measurements are similar, while in the far field (i.e. the source-receiver distance exceeds the threshold distance), the EDT is the longest for the straight long enclosure, second longest for the long enclosure with a widened inclined branch, third longest for the long enclosure with a vertical branch, and the shortest for the long enclosure with an extended inclined branch, which is similar to the trend with RT30.     

Sound propagation in long enclosures with a vertical or inclined branch

It is of interest to investigate the sound propagation in long enclosures with a vertical/inclined branch, since this may be relevant to long enclosures in practical applications, such as in high-speed railway tunnels. However, much research on sound propagation in long enclosures available is concerned with straight long enclosures. In this paper, the sound pressure level (SPL) attenuation, early decay time (EDT), and reverberation time (RT30) of long enclosures with vertical/inclined branches have been studied by comparing experimental results from physical scale models, of such enclosures with those for a straight long enclosure. It has been found that, compared with the straight long enclosure, the inclined branch makes more-difference to the SPL, EDT and RT30 of the long enclosure than the vertical branch, even though both kinds of branches have the equivalent volume.     

Relaxation of sound fields in rooms of diffusely reflecting boundaries and its application in acoustical radiosity simulation

The acoustical radiosity method is a computationally expensive acoustical simulation algorithm that assumes an enclosure with ideal diffuse reflecting boundaries. Miles observed that for such an enclosure, the sound energy decay of every point on the boundaries will gradually converge to exponential manner with a uniform decay rate. Therefore, the ratio of radiosity between every pair of points on the boundaries will converge to a constant, and the radiosity across the boundaries will approach a fixed distribution during the sound decay process, where radiosity is defined as the acoustic power per unit area leaving (or being received by) a point on a boundary. We call this phenomenon the "relaxation" of the sound field. In this paper, we study the relaxation in rooms of different shapes with different boundary absorptions. Criteria based on the relaxation of the sound field are proposed to terminate the costly and unnecessary radiosity computation in the later phase, which can then be replaced by a fast regression step to speed up the acoustical radiosity simulation.     

Behavioral vocal response thresholds to mating calls in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Male bullfrogs will vocalize in response to playbacks of the mating (advertisement) calls of conspecifics. This behavior was studied in response to playbacks of bullfrog mating calls presented at six different sound intensity levels. The lowest sound intensity level tested (50 dB SPL) was insufficient to evoke calling from any of the animals. Calling was evoked by playback levels of 60 dB SPL and higher. The data suggest that behavioral evoked calling thresholds lie between 50-60 dB SPL for these animals. Playback intensity levels of 80 dB SPL were more effective in evoking responses than were intensity levels up to 20 dB higher or lower. This was true both in terms of the total number of evoked responses and the trial number at which responding ceased. Moreover, significantly less habituation of evoked calling occurred at levels of 80 dB SPL than at higher or lower levels. The data suggest that a sound pressure level of 80 dB represents a behaviorally preferred intensity level for evoked calling in the bullfrog. Field recordings of bullfrog choruses show that the intensity produced by an individual calling male reaches a level of 80 dB SPL at a distance of 1 m. This intensity level is identical to that producing maximal evoked calling in the laboratory.     

Prediction of the absorption exponent in rectangular enclosures with a single absorbent boundary

It is known that the classical theory of room acoustics cannot be strictly applied to the study of the sound field in a rectangular enclosure with only five boundaries (i.e., with a single absorbent boundary), as the sound field in the enclosure is not diffuse. A theoretical method is developed for the prediction of the absorption exponent in a rectangular enclosure with a single absorbent boundary, and the absorption exponent is used to describe the exponential decay of the sound energy. The method is based on the radiosity-based theoretical/computer model and is used for diffusely reflecting boundaries. The predicted absorption exponent is compared with the Kuttruff values and the simulation results from Monte-Carlo computations. It is found that the predicted absorption exponent of the proposed method shows better agreement with the simulation results from Monte-Carlo computations than the Kuttruff values. With the more accurately predicted absorption exponent, the slope of the energy decay curve and other acoustic parameters in an enclosure with a single absorbent boundary can be obtained accurately.     

Parameter study of sound propagation between city canyons with a coupled FDTD-PE model

A parameter study is performed for the case of two-dimensional sound propagation from a (source) city canyon to a nearby, identical (receiver) city canyon. Focus was on sound pressure levels, relative to the free field, in the shielded canyon. An accurate and efficient coupled FDTD-PE model was applied, exploiting symmetry of the source and receiver canyon. With the proposed calculation method, simulations were necessary in only half the sound propagation domain. The shielding in the receiver canyon in case of a coherent line source was compared to the shielding by an incoherent line source, by means of sound propagation calculations in a number of 2D cross-sections through source and receiver. It was found that the shielding is rather insensitive to the width-height ratio of the canyons. The presence of diffusely reflecting façades and balconies lead to an important increase in shielding compared to flat façades. Rigid façades yield significantly lower shielding compared to partly reflecting façades. Effects of a moving atmosphere were modeled in detail. Shielding decreases significantly in case of downwind sound propagation when comparing to sound propagation in a non-moving atmosphere. Refraction is the most important effect in the latter. In case of upwind sound propagation, turbulent scattering plays an important role and the shielding is similar to the one of a non-moving atmosphere for the parameters used in this paper. The combination of effects, as is shown by some examples, is in general not a simple addition of the separate effects.     

封闭空间声场重构的多层等效源法

对于封闭空间内的多途反射声,传统的等效声源法将其等效为距离边界一定距离的单层等效声源体进行声场重构,然而等效源与边界的距离选取依据不确定。因此,为获得等效声源配置的最优距离,在等效声源法(ESM)的基础上构建多层等效声源,提出一种适用于封闭环境声场重构的多层等效声源法(MESM),并依据等效声源的空间分布的稀疏性来获得等效声源强度信息。首先给出多层等效源法的理论依据,其次通过数值计算以及实验测试两种方式对比验证了所提方法。数值结果表明:MESM相比于ESM可在600 Hz以上频段获得低5~10 dB左右的重构误差,但是200 Hz以下的低频重构误差会增加5 dB左右。实验结果表明:MESM可比ESM获得更低的重构误差。文章最后基于数值计算研究了所提方法的主要影响因素。研究表明:虽然MESM会比ESM耗费2倍的计算时间,但在整体频率范围内,MESM可在ESM基础上提升600 Hz以上的重构性能。另外,等效声源的层数和层内数目的改变不会影响声场重构性能,而当传声器数目较多、阵列位置随机、空间边界的吸声系数不是很大时,MESM可获得比ESM更低重构误差,特别是600 Hz以上的中频段区间。      

变压器典型工作环境对声功率测量结果的影响

变压器两侧常建有高大的防火墙,其从声学角度可视为刚性反射壁面,会改变变压器的辐射声场,进而影响变压器声功率测量结果。本文利用有限元、边界元等数值计算方法建立了变压器声辐射的仿真模型用以分析反射壁面对变压器声功率测量结果的影响,并通过实际测量验证了仿真计算所得结论。结果表明,反射壁面对变压器声功率测量结果的影响程度随反射壁面到变压器箱体距离增加而减弱,且当反射壁面距变压器箱体5 m以上时,其对变压器声功率基频及各谐波成份测量结果的影响均在2 dB以内。另外反射壁面对变压器噪声高频成份声功率测量结果的影响较大,而对100 Hz、200 Hz等低频成份测量结果影响较小,基本低于3 dB。     

船用三通调节阀流-固耦合噪声数值模拟

针对船用PN10DN32三通调节阀噪声声压频谱、声指向性等声学特性规律不明确,噪声声压级是否满足使用要求的问题,基于流-固耦合理论,同时考虑流-固耦合面及流体域内的脉动声学激励源,开展阀门噪声数值模拟研究。分别对三通调节阀在80%及60%开度阀外1 m处的噪声进行数值模拟,分析研究噪声声压频谱特性及声指向性规律。结果表明：80%及60%开度下的噪声声压级分别为49.14 dB(A)、50.79 dB(A),均小于60 d B(A)的噪声限制,满足使用要求。该文为船用三通调节阀噪声数值模拟提供了理论及方法参考。     

Using room acoustical parameters for evaluating the quality of urban squares for open-air rock concerts

Sound quality research of urban squares used for open-air (rock) concerts is very scarce. In contrast to the study of (classical) concert halls, little is known about useful design parameters. For the design of the amplification system, the sound engineer currently often takes into account the desired sound pressure level only.In this study, the ability of existing room acoustical parameters to characterize urban squares acoustically is investigated. An independent parameter set is identified for specific use on such squares. Besides the distribution of the sound pressure level over the square, different impulse response related parameters such as the clarity, center time, reverberation time and bass ratio were considered. In addition, binaural measures were included to measure qualities related to human spatial hearing.This study is based on a measurement campaign, performed at five squares in Belgium before and during life rock concerts. Special attention was paid to the signal processing methodology, given the significant amount of environmental noise often found at such squares during measurements. The variation of these parameters is investigated in relation to the square geometry, the amplification set-up and the presence of delay-lines. Parameters like C₈₀, T₃₀, IACC_E3/L3 and ΔL_eq,A/C were shown to be very useful when characterizing the sound field at urban squares.     

Vocal loudness and frequency capabilities of the voice

A phonetogram is a graph showing the sound pressure level (SPL) of softest and loudest phonation over the entire fundamental frequency range of a voice. A physiological interpretation of a phonetogram is facilitated if the SPL is measured with a flat frequency curve and if the vowel /a/ is used. It was found that in soft phonation, the SPL is mainly dependent on the amplitude of the fundamental, while in loud phonation, the SPL is mainly determined by overtones. The short-term SPL variation, i.e., the level variation within a tone, was about 5 dB in soft phonation and close to 2 dB in loud phonation. For two normal voices the long-term SPL variation, calculated as the mean standard deviation of SPL for day-to-day variation, was found to be between 2.4 and 3.4 dB in soft and loud phonation. Speakers who raise their loudness of phonation also tend to raise their mean voice fundamental frequency. Measures obtained from speaking at various voice levels were combined so that typical pathways could be introduced into the phonetogram. The average slope of these pathways was 0.3–0.5 st/dB for healthy subjects. Averaged phonetograms for male singers and male nonsingers did not differ significantly, but averaged phonetograms for female singers and female nonsingers did, in that the upper contour was higher for the female singers. Averaged phonetograms for female patients with non-organic dysphonia showed significantly lower SPL values in loudest phonation as compared to healthy female subjects, while no corresponding difference was seen for males in this regard. With respect to the SPL values for softest phonation, male dysphonic patients showed significantly higher SPL values than healthy male subjects, while no corresponding difference was seen in female subjects. The subglottal pressure mirrored these phonetogram differences between healthy and pathological voices. The averaged phonetograms of female patients after voice therapy showed an increased similarity with those of normal voices. For the male patients the averaged phonetogram did not change significantly after therapy.     

滨海公共空间声环境感知评价及影响因素*

滨海公共空间是滨海城市人居环境的重要组成部分,其声环境质量是影响公共空间环境体验的关键因素。本研究以青岛沿海岸线四类滨海公共空间（步道类、广场类、公园类、沙滩类）的声环境为对象,通过问卷调查和实地测量探索滨海公共空间声环境的特征、感知评价及其影响因素。结果表明：（1）滨海公共空间当前环境噪声水平基本不超过国家标准限值55dB(A) ,各类空间声环境客观特征显著不同：公园噪声水平最低,自然声源丰富;广场噪声水平最高,各种城市噪声较多;步道噪声水平较低,但受到交通噪声的影响;沙滩噪声水平较高,但以中低频的海浪声为主,比较稳定。（2）各类滨海公共空间的声源感知以自然声为主,但是广场的自然声源感知较少。此外,声环境的愉悦感评价普遍较高,但在事件感、吵闹度和总体满意度评价上具有显著差异：沙滩声环境总体评价最好,其次是公园,广场和步道的声环境则亟待改善。（3）交通噪声和最大声级Lmax对声环境的负面影响最为显著,此外受访者年龄也是影响滨海公共空间声环境感知评价的关键因素。研究结论可以为滨海公共空间声环境的优化设计提供理论依据。     

The effect of multiple branches on sound propagation in long enclosures

Since the classical room acoustics can not be used for long enclosures due to the inhomogeneous sound field, much work has been carried out recently to investigate the sound propagation in long enclosures, which are helpful to the acoustic design of practical long enclosures, such as the high-speed railway tunnels. However, most of these works focuses on the straight long enclosures without branches or with one branch. In this paper, the effects of the multiple branches on sound propagation of long enclosures are studied. The sound pressure level (SPL) attenuation, early decay time (EDT), and reverberation time (T30) of long enclosures with multiple branches have been investigated by physical scale models based acoustic experiments. Several interesting results have been obtained concerning the sound propagation of long enclosures with multiple branches. It shows that the sound field of long enclosures with multiple branches is more complex and inhomogeneous than that of the long enclosures without branches or with one branch.     

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.     

A ray model for hard parallel noise barriers in high-rise cities

A ray model is developed and validated for prediction of the insertion loss of hard parallel noise barriers placed in an urban environment either in front of a row of tall buildings or in a street canyon. The model is based on the theory of geometrical acoustics for sound diffraction at the edge of a barrier and multiple reflections by the ground, barrier and fa?ade surfaces. It is crucial to include the diffraction and multiple reflection effects in the ray model as they play important roles in determining the overall sound pressure levels for receivers located between the fa?ade and the near-side barrier. Comparisons of the ray model with a wave-based boundary element formulation show reasonably good agreement over a broad frequency range. Results of scale model experimental studies are also presented. It is demonstrated that the ray model agrees tolerably well with the scale model experimental data.     

Conditioning-induced protection from impulse noise in female and male chinchillas

Sound conditioning (pre-exposure to a moderate-level acoustic stimulus) can induce resistance to hearing loss from a subsequent traumatic exposure. Most sound conditioning experiments have utilized long-duration tones and noise at levels below 110 dB SPL as traumatic stimuli. It is important to know if sound conditioning can also provide protection from brief, high-level stimuli such as impulses produced by gunfire, and whether there are differences between females and males in the response of the ear to noise. In the present study, chinchillas were exposed to 95 dB SPL octave band noise centered at 0.5 kHz for 6 h/day for 5 days. After 5 days of recovery, they were exposed to simulated M16 rifle fire at a level of 150 dB peak SPL. Animals that were sound conditioned showed less hearing loss and smaller hair cell lesions than controls. Females showed significantly less hearing loss than males at low frequencies, but more hearing loss at 16 kHz. Cochleograms showed slightly less hair cell loss in females than in males. The results show that significant protection from impulse noise can be achieved with a 5-day conditioning regimen, and that there are consistent differences between female and male chinchillas in the response of the cochlea to impulse noise.     

The predicted barrier effects in the proximity of tall buildings

A ray model is developed and validated for the prediction of the insertion loss of barriers that are placed in front of a tall building in high-rise cities. The model is based on the theory of geometrical acoustics for sound diffraction at the edge of a barrier and multiple reflections by the barrier and fa?ade surfaces. It is crucial to include the diffraction and multiple reflection effects in the ray model, as they play important roles in determining the overall sound pressure levels for receivers located between the fa?ade and barrier. Comparisons of the ray model with indoor experimental data and wave-based boundary element formulation show reasonably good agreement over a broad frequency range. Case studies are also presented that highlight the significance of positioning the barrier relative to the noise-sensitive receivers in order to achieve improved shielding efficiency of the barrier.     

Room acoustical model of external reverberation

A theory of external reverberation in urban built-up environments is developed, based on a classical room acoustical model. In the model, external reverberation is analyzed as a special limiting case of internal reverberation in rooms. Explicit formulae are deduced for the statistical value of the external reverberation time, and the spatial distribution of the external sound field amplitude with distance from a fixed, constant power, sound source, for which comparison with published experimental results is possible. Predictions of the theory compare reasonably well with the experimental values. It is found that the external reverberation time in a built-up area depends chiefly on the average building height, and to a lesser extent on the packing fraction, and the ratio of surface area to cross-sectional area of buildings which make up the built-up environment, apart from the absorptive properties of the building and ground plane surfaces. For the spatial distribution of the steady state sound field amplitude in a built-up environment, it is found that the diffuse field amplitude attenuates with distance from a fixed, constant power source exponentially faster than the inverse square law.