Reverberation time measurements in non-diffuse acoustic field by the modal reverberation time

The increasing presence of low frequency sources and the lack of acoustic standard measurement procedures make the extension of reverberation time measurements to frequencies below 100 Hz necessary. In typical ordinary rooms with volumes between 30 m³ and 200 m³ the sound field is non-diffuse at such low frequencies, entailing inhomogeneities in space and frequency domains. Presence of standing waves is also the main cause of bad quality of listening in terms of clarity and rumble effects. Since standard measurements according to ISO 3382 fail to achieve accurate and precise values in third octave bands due to non-linear decays caused by room modes, a new approach based on reverberation time measurements of single resonant frequencies (the modal reverberation time) has been introduced. From background theory, due to the intrinsic relation between modal decays and half bandwidth of resonant frequencies, two measurement methods have been proposed together with proper measurement procedures: a direct method based on interrupted source signal method, and an indirect method based on half bandwidth measurements. With microphones placed at corners of rectangular rooms in order to detect all modes and maximize SNRs, different source signals were tested. Anti-resonant sine waves and sweep signal turned out to be the most suitable for direct and indirect measurement methods respectively. From spatial measurements in an empty rectangular test room, comparison between direct and indirect methods showed good and significant agreements. This is the first experimental validation of the relation between resonant half bandwidth and modal reverberation time. Furthermore, comparisons between means and standard deviations of modal reverberation times and standard reverberation times in third octave bands confirm the inadequacy of standard procedure to get accurate and precise values at low frequencies with respect to the modal approach. Modal reverberation time measurements applied to furnished ordinary rooms confirm previous results in the limit of modal sound field: for highly damped modes due to furniture or acoustic treatment, the indirect method is not applicable due to strong suppression of modes and the consequent deviation of the acoustic field from a non-diffuse condition to a damped modal condition, while standard reverberation times align with direct method values. In the future, further investigations will be necessary in different rooms to improve uncertainty evaluation.     

Development of an optimised, standard-compliant procedure to calculate sound transmission loss: design of transmission rooms

A numerical procedure to estimate the transmission loss of sound insulating structures is proposed based upon the technology of acoustic measurements and standards. A virtual laboratory (VL), namely, a numerical representation of a real laboratory consisting of two reverberation rooms meeting certain sound field quality criteria is designed. VL is to be used for the numerical simulation of standardised measurements under predefined, controlled, acoustic conditions. In this paper, the design and optimisation of VL is investigated. The geometry of the transmission rooms is designed following first principles, in order for diffuse field conditions and sufficiently smooth primary mode distribution in the low frequency to be achieved. A finite element-based optimisation procedure, introduced by the author in previous work, is extended to arbitrarily shaped rooms. It is used to predict the appropriate local geometric modifications so as for improved mode distribution and smoother sound pressure fluctuations of the transmission rooms in the low-frequency range to be achieved and low-frequency measurement reproducibility and accuracy to be increased. Steady-state acoustic response analysis is performed in order to quantify the acoustic field quality of the virtual transmission rooms in the frequency range of measurements. A method to calculate the total absorption, A, of the receiving room is introduced by simulation of the reverberation time measurement procedure using Transient acoustic response analysis. The acoustic performance of VL is overall considered and is shown to meet in a sufficient degree, relative laboratory measurement standards in the frequency range of 100÷704 Hz.     

Sound strength and reverberation time in small concert halls

Sound strength and reverberation time measurements have been carried out in six small concert halls in Cambridge, UK. The sound strength G is a measure of the physical sound level in a concert hall and is closely related to the subjective sensation of loudness. It compares integrated impulse responses at a point in the measured room with that measured at ten metres distance in the free field.The aim of the measurements is to investigate the acoustic characteristics of the halls concerning sound strength and reverberation time. Furthermore the effect of the variable acoustics in the halls on these parameters is discussed in this paper. Especially for bigger ensembles it is often desirable to reduce the sound level in a small concert hall. The measurement results show that for a fixed hall volume, this can primarily be achieved by decreasing the reverberation time in the hall. However, with regard to the sound quality of a hall and the recommended reverberation times for chamber music, reverberation time cannot be reduced by an arbitrary extent. Therefore reverberation time and strength have to be balanced very carefully in order to obtain sufficient reverberation whilst at the same time avoiding excessive loudness. Finally the measured strength levels are compared to values derived from traditional and revised theory [Barron M, Lee L-J. Energy relations in concert auditoriums. J Acoust Soc Am 1988;84(2):618-28] on strength calculations in order to assess the accuracy of the theory for small chamber music halls. Possible reasons for the low measured strength levels observed are discussed with reference to related design features and objective acoustic parameters.     

Acoustic characterization of on-stage performers in performing spaces

The influence of on-stage performers on the acoustic characteristics of performing spaces is significant because the musicians are absorptive and close to the sound source. However, the acoustic information of the musicians and their effect on absorption, scattering, and diffusion remain unclear. The acoustic characteristics of musicians were measured in a reverberation chamber and a semi-anechoic chamber while varying the type of clothes, the instruments, and seating density. The clothing worn showed a larger impact on the absorption per person, whereas the addition of cellos resulted in low-frequency absorption per person. The addition of cellos also increased the scattering and diffusion characteristics. Finally, the total absorption by the musicians under various conditions was analyzed in a concert hall using the simple Sabine equation where the influence of the musician’s instruments resulted in reverberation time of more than 0.1 s decrease with about 90 musicians on stage. However, the influences of additional musical instruments resulted in no significant difference in the reverberation time compared to the people alone. In addition, scattering due to the various conditions of orchestra such as the seating density and the addition of musical instrument was not a significant predictor of reverberation time.     

Performance Evaluation and Effectiveness of the Reverberation Room

This research presents a thorough evaluation of the reverberation room at Acoustics Laboratory in National Institute of Standards (NIS) according to the related international standards. The evaluation aims at examining the room performance and exploring its effectiveness in the frequency range from 125 Hz to 10000 Hz according to the international standard requirements. The room, which was designed and built several years ago, is an irregular rectangular shape free from diffusers. Its volume is about 158.84 m³, which meets the requirement of the ISO 354 standard L_max < 1.9V^1/3. Cut-off frequencies of one and one-third octave are 63 Hz and 100 Hz respectively; however Schroder frequency is 400 Hz. Calculations of cut-off frequency and modal density showed adequate modes that give acceptable uniformity starting comfortably from frequency of 125 Hz. The room has a reverberation time that is suitable for its size over the frequency range of interest. The room sound absorption surface area and its sound absorption coefficient satisfy the criteria given in ISO 3741 and ISO 354. There is an accepted diffuse sound field inside the room due to the standard deviation of measured sound level, which is less than 1.5 dB over all the frequency range. The only exception was 125 Hz which may be due to a lack of diffusivity of the sound field at this frequency. The evaluation proves that the NIS reverberation room is in full agreement with the international standards, which in turns qualifies the room to host measurements inside without concerns.     

Azimuthal dependence of reverberation from a harmonic signal propagating in shallow water

The problem of scattering from a rough sea surface is considered for a harmonic low-frequency (200–400 Hz) acoustic signal propagating in a shallow water area. An experimental study of the azimuthal reverberation dependence is carried out on the basis of the bistatic location scheme with the use of linear phased arrays. By comparison with calculations, the formation of the frequency-angular characteristics of reverberation is investigated for various wind directions with respect to the path of acoustic signal propagation.     

Introducing atmospheric attenuation within a diffusion model for room-acoustic predictions

This paper presents an extension of a diffusion model for room acoustics to handle the atmospheric attenuation. This phenomenon is critical at high frequencies and in large rooms to obtain correct acoustic predictions. An additional term is introduced in the diffusion equation as well as in the diffusion constant, in order to take the atmospheric attenuation into account. The modified diffusion model is then compared with the statistical theory and a cone-tracing software. Three typical room-acoustic configurations are investigated: a proportionate room, a long room and a flat room. The modified diffusion model agrees well with the statistical theory (when applicable, as in proportionate rooms) and with the cone-tracing software, both in terms of sound pressure levels and reverberation times.     

Influence of wall absorption on low-frequency dependence of reverberation time in room of irregular shape

In this paper, a modal analysis was used to describe a reverberation phenomenon in a room of complex shape. A theoretical model was limited to low sound frequencies, when eigenmodes are lightly damped, thus they may be approximated by uncoupled normal acoustic modes of a hard-walled room. A utility of this method was demonstrated in a numerical example where the enclosure in a form of two coupled rooms was considered. A reverberation time was evaluated from a time decay of spatial root mean square pressure, the overall measure of room pressure. The results of calculations, performed for three different distributions of absorbing materials on room walls, showed how various location of the material can effect a dependence of the reverberation time on a frequency of sound source.     

Comparing the effects of reverberation and of noise on speech recognition in simulated electric-acoustic listening

Cochlear implant users report difficulty understanding speech in both noisy and reverberant environments. Electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) is known to improve speech intelligibility in noise. However, little is known about the potential benefits of EAS in reverberation, or about how such benefits relate to those observed in noise. The present study used EAS simulations to examine these questions. Sentences were convolved with impulse responses from a model of a room whose estimated reverberation times were varied from 0 to 1 sec. These reverberated stimuli were then vocoded to simulate electric stimulation, or presented as a combination of vocoder plus low-pass filtered speech to simulate EAS. Monaural sentence recognition scores were measured in two conditions: reverberated speech and speech in a reverberated noise. The long-term spectrum and amplitude modulations of the noise were equated to the reverberant energy, allowing a comparison of the effects of the interferer (speech vs noise). Results indicate that, at least in simulation, (1) EAS provides significant benefit in reverberation; (2) the benefits of EAS in reverberation may be underestimated by those in a comparable noise; and (3) the EAS benefit in reverberation likely arises from partially preserved cues in this background accessible via the low-frequency acoustic component.     

Fast estimation of speech transmission index using the reverberation time

The paper presents the function of STI in the domain of reverberation time. Through the application of the said function, we can quickly estimate the speech transmission index, knowing only the time of room reverberation. For that purpose we applied a known method which consists in physical estimation of speech intelligibility basing on the modulation transfer function (MTF) determined in a room. Then, the STI was described using a logarithmic function whereof argument was the room reverberation time. To verify the model, reverberation times of six rooms were measured. The selected rooms were very different deliberately. They had different cubature and shape. The selection included a small cuboid, lecture halls and a church. Then, the same rooms were modeled in the ODEON version 11.23 and their reverberation times were determined. Furthermore, the STI was determined in the ODEON and then compared with the reverberation time obtained in effect of fast estimation. The statistical verification with the use of correlation index and regression equation has demonstrated that the fast estimation yields results close to those obtained in the computer simulation in ODEON. We obtained the correlation index at the level close to 1. Furthermore, the test probability at the level lower than 0.05 bespeaks of a statistically significant linear relation for the confidence level of 95%.     

Decay rates and wall absorption at low frequencies

This paper is concerned with evaluating the error of conventional estimates of the boundary absorption of rectangular enclosures, with particular reference to reverberation room sound power measurements. The reverberation process is examined theoretically; the relative contributions to the decay rate from different modes in a rectangular room are calculated from an ensemble average over rooms with nearly the same dimensions. It is shown that the traditional method of determining the absorption of the walls of reverberation rooms systematically underestimates the absorption at low frequencies; the error is computed from the ensemble average. Finally, an unbiased estimate of the sound power radiated by a source in a reverberation room is derived. This estimate involves measurement of the initial decay rates of the room and is, unlike the usual reverberation room sound power estimate, neither based on statistical diffuse field considerations nor on the normal mode theory.     

小阻尼界面房间声传输函数和声脉冲响应函数的有限元素法

有限元法可用于以声波动方程为基础通过数值计算求解室内声场,适用于分析界面阻抗非均匀分布和复杂形状房间内声场的低频特性。本文首先介绍了小阻尼界面条件下室内声场简正方式、声衰变系数、混响时间的ＦＥＭ计算方法。在此基础上导出了房间内两点之间声传输函数和声脉冲响应函数的ＦＥＭ计算模型,并以矩形房间为例详细讨论了有关细节。本文所讨论的计算模型可以映房间内不同的声源点,接收点位置上的声压频谱特性和脉冲响应的时     

Numerical and analytical modelling of entropy noise in a supersonic nozzle with a shock

Analytical and numerical assessments of the indirect noise generated through a nozzle are presented. The configuration corresponds to an experiment achieved at DLR by Bake et al. [The entropy wave generator (EWG): a reference case on entropy noise, Journal of Sound and Vibration 326 (2009) 574-598] where an entropy wave is generated upstream of a nozzle by an electrical heating device. Both 3-D and 2-D axisymmetric simulations are performed to demonstrate that the experiment is mostly driven by linear acoustic phenomena, including pressure wave reflection at the outlet and entropy-to-acoustic conversion in the accelerated regions. Moreover, the spatial inhomogeneity of the upstream entropy fluctuation has no visible effect for the investigated frequency range (0-100 Hz). Similar results are obtained with a purely analytical method based on the compact nozzle approximation of Marble and Candel [Acoustic disturbances from gas nonuniformities convected through a nozzle, Journal of Sound and Vibration 55 (1977) 225-243] demonstrating that the DLR results can be reproduced simply on the basis of a low-frequency compact-elements approximation. Like in the present simulations, the analytical method shows that the acoustic impedance downstream of the nozzle must be accounted for to properly recover the experimental pressure signal. The analytical method can also be used to optimize the experimental parameters and avoid the interaction between transmitted and reflected waves.     

Nonexponential sound decay in concert halls

The paper presents acoustic measurement results for two concert halls in which nonexponential sound decay is observed. Quantitative estimates are given for how the obtained decay laws differ from exponential. Problems are discussed that arise when using reverberation time to assess the quality of room acoustics with nonexponential sound decay.     

The average absorption coefficient for enclosed spaces with non uniformly distributed absorption

This study concerns the determination of an equivalent acoustic absorption model of the flat heterogeneous walls present in industrial rooms. Numerous measurements of the reverberation time in reverberant room were carried out for several facings with different distributed spatial absorption. Experimental results were compared to classical reverberation time models. The measurements showed that the change in average acoustic absorption depends on the relative distance between the sound source and the absorbent panels, as it is this which creates heterogeneity. Therefore, taking into consideration, in the theoretical models of average acoustic absorption studied, the solid angles representing the equivalent area of the panels as viewed by the source, improved the accuracy of the calculated reverberation time compared to the measurements. This equivalent acoustic absorption model, based on Sabine's absorption coefficient and employing the solid angle ratio, was used to calculate the reverberation time of several industrial rooms. The results obtained are better than those obtained with the standard formula.     

Fundamental accuracy of time domain finite element method for sound-field analysis of rooms

This paper presents an assessment of the accuracy and applicability of a time domain finite element method (TDFEM) for sound-field analysis in architectural space. This TDFEM incorporates several techniques: (1) a hexahedral 27-node isoparametric acoustic element using a spline function; (2) a lumped acoustic dissipation matrix; and (3) Newmark time integration method with an absolute diagonal scaled COCG iterative solver. Sound fields in an irregularly shaped reverberation room of 166 m³ are computed using TDFEM. The computed values and measured values for 125-500 Hz are compared, revealing that the fine structure of the computed band-limited impulse responses agree with measured ones up to 0.1 s, with a cross-correlation coefficient greater than 0.93. The cross-correlation coefficient decreases gradually over time, and more rapidly for higher frequencies. Moreover, the computed decay curves, and the reverberation times, agree well with the respective measured ones, and with a better fit the higher the frequency (up to 500 Hz).     

Analysis of tracheal noise of forced human expiration according to clinical experimental data

The analysis of tracheal noise of forced expiration is one of the promising methods for the diagnosis of bronchial patency disorders, which are a sign of such widespread diseases as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis. The aim of this study is the verification and refinement of the acoustic model of forced expiration (Korenbaum et al., 1998) on the basis of a statistical analysis of clinical experimental data. A sample of 127 volunteers (from 18 to 74 years old) is used as an experimental statistical model: 34 persons suffering from bronchial asthma, 21 persons suffering from chronic obstructive bronchitis, 29 healthy persons, and 43 persons liable to developing the aforementioned diseases. The following parameters are analyzed: the total duration of noise of forced expiration at the trachea, the duration of wheeze of forced expiration with frequencies from 400 to 600 Hz, and the presence of narrowband high-frequency (over 600–700 Hz) spectral components at the end of forced expiration and during the whole expiration process. Reliable differences in the parameters of tracheal noise are revealed in the groups under study. The high prognostic value (a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 86%) of the parameters of tracheal noise of forced expiration, which were suggested a priori as the diagnostic parameters on the basis of the acoustic model (Korenbaum et al., 1998), indirectly confirms the adequacy of this model. The biomechanical-pathophysiological interpretation of the occurrence of acoustic deviations in the experimental sample groups provides an opportunity to relate the parameters of tracheal noise of forced expiration to the degree of mechanical nonuniformity of the lungs.     

ODEON仿真与实际测量语言传输指数实验对比

近年来音质仿真技术的快速发展为语言传输指数STI的预测提供了一个潜在的解决方案。但这种方法的有效性如何,则是在使用该技术之前应该考虑的问题。本文对3个房间内音质仿真与实际测量STI进行实验对比,研究表明:在仿真模型与实际空间的声学等效较为准确的情况下,使用音质仿真软件ODEON计算得到的STI误差较小;混响时间的变化在背景噪声较高时可能会对仿真STI的准确性带来显著影响,随着混响时间的增加,仿真与实际测量STI的差值可能变大;信噪比的变化并不会给仿真STI的准确性带来显著影响;仿真脉冲响应与实际测量脉冲响应的频谱有一定差别,时域上的反射声序列也不相同,但这些差别对仿真STI的影响并不大;仿真过程中比较容易产生的信噪比误差对仿真STI产生了较大影响。由于影响音质仿真结果的因素较多,仿真模型与实际空间的声学等效也比较复杂,尤其是对于没有实际参照校准的房间来说,想要获得准确的STI预测结果是比较困难的。     

Measurement of sound absorption coefficients of flat surfaces in a workshop

To improve the acoustic treatment of facings and provide appropriate solutions for noise control at workplace, it is necessary to develop methods of acoustic characterization of the walls in industrial halls. Sound absorption coefficient measurement in industrial rooms is however quite a difficult task because of the partially reverberant conditions. This work describes the measurement of the sound absorption coefficient of flat panels subject to small angle sound incidence, in an industrial hall using an experimental device equipped with an acoustic array. The directivity of this array has been optimized so that the major part of the received acoustic energy would come from one portion only of the investigated facing, this, in turn attenuating the reflected beams due to the reverberation. This new device includes an impulse sound source targeting the panels. The present article focuses mainly on the sound source design and implementation. It also describes some sound absorption measurements carried in a semi-anechoic chamber and in an industrial hall in order to examine the performance of the device. Sound absorption coefficients of several standard liners obtained through this device have been compared to those resulted from the two microphone technique.     

薄膜型声学超材料对低频振动的隔声特性分析*

高效共振混合机工作频率为60 Hz,且系统处于共振,产生较大低频噪声。针对振动机械产生的有害噪声,分析了高效共振混合机低频高加速度共振混合过程的特点,得到了60 Hz低频声波穿透力强特点,相比传统的以吸声材料构建的50~100 mm厚度、隔声效果小于10 dB的隔声罩,分析了薄膜型声学超材料在低频减振降噪中的隔声特性。通过多物理场仿真分析,60 Hz时隔声量为31.4 dB,确定了硅橡胶弹性薄膜的预应力和质量块的面密度;采用3D打印机快速成型技术,构建了隔声实验装置,分析了独立隔声单元、面密度、薄膜尺寸等隔声特性规律。基于人耳在实际环境中感受到的噪声强度,提出了噪声衰减量和插入损失的分析方法,在距离声源380 mm和1000 mm的位置,60 Hz时隔声量分别为27 dB和38 dB。研究成果丰富了低频隔声特性理论,为薄膜型声学超材料的工程设计和优化提供了技术支撑。