A model comparison of the absorption coefficient of a Microperforated Insertion Unit in the frequency and time domains

The absorption coefficient of acoustic materials can be measured either in the frequency or the time domain. At normal incidence, a sample of the material is fitted within an impedance tube and the absorption coefficient is calculated in the frequency domain from the measurement of the transfer function between two microphones [ISO 10534-2. Acoustics - determination of sound absorption coefficient and impedance in impedance tubes - Part 2: transfer function method. ISO, Geneva, Switzerland; 1996]. When the acoustic material must be characterized at oblique incidence or in situ (noise barriers, for instance) the absorption coefficient is calculated from measurements of the loudspeaker-microphone impulse response in the time domain, both in free field and in front of the sample [CEN/TS 1793-5. Road traffic noise reduction devices - test method for determining the acoustic performance - Part 5: intrinsic characteristics - in situ values of sound reflection and airborne sound insulation. CEN, Brussels, Belgium; 2003, ISO 13472-1. Acoustic measurement of sound absorption properties of road surfaces in situ - Part I: extended surface method. ISO, Geneva, Switzerland; 2002]. Since the absorption is an intrinsic property of the acoustic material, its measurement in either domain must provide the same result. However, this has not been formally demonstrated yet. The aim of this paper is to carry out a comparison between the absorption coefficient predicted by the impedance model of a Microperforated Insertion Unit and the absorption coefficient predicted from a simulated reflection trace taken into account the finite length of the time window.     

Influence of cement flow and aggregate type on the mechanical and acoustic characteristics of porous concrete

The influence of cement flow and aggregate type on the mechanical and acoustic characteristics of porous concrete is systematically investigated in the present study. Three levels of cement flow (80%, 110%, and 140%) and five types of aggregates (normal aggregates of 8-13 mm and 13-19 mm and lightweight aggregates of 4-8 mm, 8-12 mm, and 12-19 mm) are used, and effects of the application of AE admixtures in paste were also studied. Single-layered and double-layered porous concrete specimens are fabricated to examine the effect of different layer configuration on the acoustic characteristics. For the purpose of comparison, the void ratio, compressive strength, and sound absorption coefficient of the specimens are used as evaluation parameters. Based on the findings of the study, a sound absorbing porous concrete with a maximum absorption coefficient of approximately 1.00 is developed, and the minimum absorption coefficient of the ‘double-layered porous concrete’ structure is shown to be more than 0.60 with a frequency of 400 Hz or above, considering the tolerant error.     

一种预测扩散声场在非规则形状刚性壁面附近干涉图样的方法

扩散声场会在反射边界附近形成干涉图样,研究方法包括平面波模型、简正模态分析、渐进模态分析等,但仅适用于尺度远大于声波波长的矩形声腔。提出一种预测扩散声场在非规则刚性壁面结构附近形成的干涉图样的数值方法,表明结构附近“受挡”声压的互谱矩阵取决于:(1)假定该结构在自由空间中振动辐射声音时其表面法向振速到表面及场点声压的边界元系数矩阵;(2)假定结构置于自由空间中且表面刚性时,点声源辐射声波入射到结构表面上产生的散射声场的边界元系数矩阵;(3)扩散声场均方声压。仿真表明,该途径预测的干涉图样与理论值完全吻合。该预测方法还可用于混响环境下声源附近直达声压均方值的空间分布估计,为混响环境下设备的声源定位提供帮助。      

A simple empirical model of polyester fibre materials for acoustical applications

A new empirical model has been developed by the authors to predict the flow resistivity, acoustic impedance and sound absorption coefficient of polyester fibre materials. The parameters of the model have been adjusted to best fit the values of airflow resistivity and sound absorption coefficient measured over a set of 38 samples. Calculated results are compared with normal incidence measurements carried out using two different techniques: the transfer-function method in an impedance tube (ISO 10534-2) and the free-field impulse response method (ISO 13472-1). Measurements performed on polyester fibre materials with different density and thickness values, and diameter ranging from 18 to 48 μm, are in good agreement with the predictions of the new model. It is concluded that the new model can predict the basic acoustic properties of common polyester fibre materials with any practical combination of thickness and density².     

Estimation of pressure-particle velocity impedance measurement uncertainty using the Monte Carlo method

The pressure-particle velocity (PU) impedance measurement technique is an experimental method used to measure the surface impedance and the absorption coefficient of acoustic samples in situ or under free-field conditions. In this paper, the measurement uncertainty of the the absorption coefficient determined using the PU technique is explored applying the Monte Carlo method. It is shown that because of the uncertainty, it is particularly difficult to measure samples with low absorption and that difficulties associated with the localization of the acoustic centers of the sound source and the PU sensor affect the quality of the measurement roughly to the same extent as the errors in the transfer function between pressure and particle velocity do.     

In situ measurements of surface impedance and absorption coefficients of porous materials using two microphones and ambient noise

An in situ measurement method is proposed for obtaining the normal surface impedance and absorption coefficient of porous materials using two microphones located close to the material without a specific sound source such as a loudspeaker. Ambient environmental noise that does not excite distinct modes in the sound field is employed as the sound source. Measurements of the normal surface impedance of glass wool and rockwool have been made using this method in various sound fields. The repeatability and wide applicability of the method are demonstrated by comparing results of measurements in one room with different noise conditions and in three other environments (corridor, cafeteria and terrace). The assumed diffuse nature of the sound field on the material is validated by using absorption characteristics obtained experimentally at oblique incidence. This method allows simple and efficient in situ measurements of absorption characteristics of materials in a diffuse field.     

Measuring sound scattering coefficients of uneven surfaces in a reverberant workplace – Principle and validation of the method

In workplaces, wall facings are often based on periodic or aperiodic sound scattering surfaces. It is necessary to develop acoustic characterization methods for these kinds of walls to predict the acoustic pressure cartography in the room in order to improve the acoustical treatment. However, this characterization is quite difficult because of the partially reverberant conditions. We developed a measurement system which determines in situ the sound scattering coefficients of relief surfaces. The measurement method, originally operating in free-field conditions, was adapted for indoor use. To overcome problems of parasite echoes coming from reverberation and from noisy sources present on the site, we developed a dedicated emission/reception system. An acoustic antenna with constant directivity over the full frequency range allows spatial filtering of the parasite echoes and an impulsive sound source enables the use of a broad temporal window, resulting in adequate time separation of the different signals received by the antenna. Measurements of the sound scattering coefficient of a corrugated panel were carried out for several incidence angles in free-field and in a noisy workshop and allowed the in situ validation of this system.     

Acoustical properties of aerated autoclaved concrete

This work analyses acoustic qualities of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Three the most widely used types of AAC are chosen for the analysis: gas cement concrete, gas cement concrete with combined binder (Portland cement and lime), and foam cement concrete. The procedure and technique of the materials’ formation is presented in this work. The evaluation of acoustic qualities of AAC is based on the material’s air permeability and porosity (i.e., ratio of the volume of the interconnected pores to the total volume of pores). For this purpose the measurements obtained by an acoustic interferometer are used. The results of the experiment show that regression equations for the AAC types, which density ranges from 250 to 500 kg/m³, may be used to estimate the materials’ normal incidence absorption coefficient values, which depend on the air permeability and porosity. Results show that absorption coefficient of not specially treated AAC is rather low. According to the measurements obtained in a special reverberation room of 202 m³, a sound absorption coefficient may increase up to 0.6, provided that slits of Helmholtz resonator’s type are made in the slabs of AAC gas cement concrete with combined binder.     

Investigation studies involving sound absorbing parameters of roadside screen panels subjected to aging in simulated conditions

The paper presents the results of investigation studies involving the impact of atmospheric factors on sound-absorbing parameters of roadside acoustic screen panels. The research studies comprised the aging test consisting of 1000 cycles in simulated conditions, sound absorption measurements and surface morphology tests, using the SEM scanning method. The simulation of aging consisted of 100 or 150 cycles at a time. Then, the panels were investigated in the reverberation chamber to define their sound-absorbing properties. The process was repeated until 1000 cycles were completed. Basing on the carried out tests, a statistical linear model was worked out which was used to estimate the value of a single number sound absorption coefficient after successive aging cycles. The optimality of the model was demonstrated by means of a statistical test confirming normal distribution of random residuals. For the research studies, we employed an innovative structural design of panels for which aging characteristics were obtained. Basing on the obtained results and on the statistical analysis, the prospects to maintain acoustic properties of the panels during their service life was estimated.     

The impact of the neck material on the sound absorption performance of Helmholtz resonators

Helmholtz resonators with sound absorption materials filling the neck may have an improved sound absorption capacity. In this work, parallel perforated ceramics with different perforation diameters were installed into the neck of a Helmholtz resonator to improve its acoustic impedance to simultaneously achieve a better acoustic absorption coefficient and a wider absorption bandwidth. An experimental system was built to investigate the effect of the perforation diameters on the sound absorption performance of the resonator. It is found that nonlinear effects near the resonance frequency affect the resonator?s neck mouth impedance and further its sound absorption performance significantly. For frequency range 50–500 Hz, a model of the neck mouth impedance is developed based on a revised Forchheimer relationship. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical model.     

Applicability of locally reacting boundary conditions to porous material layer backed by rigid wall: Wave-based numerical study in non-diffuse sound field with unevenly distributed sound absorbing surfaces

To clarify the applicability of locally reacting boundary conditions in wave-based numerical analyses of sound fields in rooms, we numerically analyzed a non-diffuse sound field in a room with unevenly distributed sound absorbing surfaces and investigated the differences between the extended and local reactions. Each absorbing surface was a porous material layer backed by a rigid wall. Simulations were performed by the fast multipole boundary element method, a highly efficient boundary element method using the fast multipole method. At low frequencies, the extended and local reactions yielded similar reverberation decay curves because of the influence of the room. However, when the random incidence absorption coefficients were small at low frequencies or frequencies were high, the difference was greater than expected from the corresponding Eyring decay lines. We conclude at high frequencies, the locally reacting boundary conditions lead to a longer reverberation time than that expected from the absorption coefficient differences between the extended and local reactions. These differences were similar in sound-pressure-level and sound-intensity-level distributions, and in the oblique incidence absorption coefficient of the absorbing surfaces, but were increased at low frequencies.     

高声压级时多孔金属板的吸声特性研究

针对高声压级下有限厚度多孔金属板在线性阻抗背衬条件下(背衬表面声压与声质点速度为线性关系)的吸声问题,提出了一个描述不同声压级下材料层法向吸声性能的一维模型,并给出求解材料层内部声质点速度的线化与差分方法,以预测多孔金属板在高声压级下的非线性吸声特性。在阻抗管中对两块多孔金属板进行了声学测试,得到了材料层法向表面阻抗和吸声系数随入射声压级变化的实验结果。研究表明:实验与理论预测符合良好,验证了模型与数值方法的正确性。本文所提原理和方法,可用于一般硬质多孔材料。      

Evaluation of sound absorbing coefficients in a reverberant room by computer-ray simulation

Standardized methods for the measurement of the sound absorption coefficient, α, of materials in a reverberant room use well known relations between α and the reverberation time of the room. Actually, these relations are correct only in rooms with high diffusion at low α values and for uniform distribution of the absorption on the surfaces. The introduction of acoustic materials with high α values concentrated on only one surface, as recommended by standards, causes a derandomization of the sound field, which may overcome the ‘randomization strength’ of the enclosure and therefore make the use of traditional formulae incorrect. This paper proposes a computer-ray tracing model, which enables these phenomena to be described, and operatively defines the ‘randomization strength’ of room design. Lastly, an alternative approach is suggested for evaluating the sound absorption coefficient, based on the characterization of the reverberant room by its own ‘calibration curve’.     

一种现场测量材料吸声特性的新方法

现有的材料吸声系数测量方法主要有混响室法和驻波管法,都属于实验室测量方法,不适合现场测量。使用普通扬声器的反射法可以对材料的吸声特性进行现场测量,但是对材料尺寸和测试环境有较高的要求。本文利用参量阵非线性自解调可听声的高指向性和在阵长距离内的平面波特性,结合传递函数法,测量材料的吸声系数,并与传统驻波管测量结果进行了对比。结果表明在普通房间条件下,不需要驻波管,混响室等实验环境,即可对小尺寸的材料进行吸声系数的现场快速测量,具有较大的实用性。      

基于声压-质点速度声强探头的材料吸声系数的测量

通过由一个声压换能器和一个质点速度换能器所构成的传感器(p-u声强探头)同时测量材料表面附近的声压和质点振动速度,可直接得到其声学阻抗,进而得到材料的反射因子、吸声系数。本文利用一个p-u探头声强测量系统,在半消声室内测量了三聚氰胺泡沫的吸声系数,分析了声源高度和入射角度、材料样本尺寸和厚度对吸声系数测量的影响,并和阻抗管中测量得到的法向吸声系数进行了对比。最后分析了声阻抗率的幅值和相位误差对吸声系数的影响,推导了它们的误差传递公式。     

Experimental investigation of holes interaction effect on the sound absorption coefficient of micro-perforated panels under high and medium sound levels

This paper experimentally investigates the holes interaction effect on the sound absorption coefficient of micro-perforated panels under high and medium sound levels. The theoretical formulations are based on a semi-empirical approach and the use of Fok’s function to model the acoustic surface impedance. For the high sound level regime, an empirical power law involving three coefficients is adapted. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that these coefficients can lead to optimized absorption performance and particularly, a formula relating the critical Reynolds number (Reynolds number value after which the absorption coefficient decreases with the increase of sound level) and the center-to-center distance between the perforations is derived. It is demonstrated that the first coefficient of the nonlinear acoustic resistance strongly depends on the separation distance between the apertures and decreases with a decrease of this latter distance. Analysis of the data reveals the fact that even with Holes Interaction Effect (HIE), the nonlinear reactance dependence on velocity is still very low compared to the resistance-velocity dependence. Four perforated panels of 1.5 mm thickness with different separation distances between the holes (from widely to closely separation) were built and tested. Experimental results performed with an impedance tube are compared with the described model for HIE. To test the dependence of the coefficients on frequency, the experiments are carried out for two different excitation frequencies (292 Hz and 506 Hz). The results can be used for designing optimal perforated panels for ducts, silencers and for the automotive industry.     

The sound speed and attenuation in loose and consolidated granular formulations of high alumina cements

Clinkers of high alumina cements are separated into three granular formulations with particle sizes in the range 0.6-0.71 mm, 0.71-1.18 mm and greater than 1.18 mm. These are used to manufacture consolidated samples of porous concrete in an autoclave. The acoustic and microscopic properties of loose and consolidated porous samples of concrete are investigated using both experimental methods and mathematical modelling. Values of porosity, flow resistivity, tortuosity and parameters of the pore size distribution are determined and used to predict closely the sound speed, acoustic attenuation and normal incidence absorption coefficient of these materials. It is shown that high alumina cements do not require additional binders for consolidation and that the structural bonds in these cements are developed quickly between individual clinkers in the presence of water. The hydration product build-up during the consolidation process is insignificant which ensures good acoustic performance of the consolidated samples resulting from a sufficient proportion of the open pores. The value of porosity in the consolidated samples was found to be around 40%, which is close to that measured in some commercial acoustic absorbers. This work provides a foundation for the development of acoustically efficient and structurally robust materials, which can be integrated in environmentally sustainable concrete and masonry structures.     

Design of a multipolar weighting for acoustic antennae

This work describes the development of an acoustic antenna for which several kinds of weightings have been studied to obtain a narrow directivity with attenuated rear lobes. Later, this antenna will be used in a new device to measure the sound absorption coefficient of flat panels in industrial sites. It is often necessary, although quite difficult, to measure acoustic absorption coefficients in partially diffuse conditions, because predicting the sound pressure level at, for instance, a workplace requires in situ characterization of the facings. This antenna has been optimized so that the major part of the received acoustic energy would come from one portion only of an investigated facing present in an industrial room. The multipolar weighting is quite efficient because the associated directivity can be carried out with a limited number of microphones. The calculation technique is improved to achieve a constant sensitivity antenna within the desired frequency range with most of the secondary lobes rejected. The designed receiving system is composed of four antennae, each equipped with five sensors. The directivity, at 150-5000 Hz range, has been verified in an anechoic room.     

Experimental measurements of acoustical properties of snow and inverse characterization of its geometrical parameters

Snow is a sound absorbing porous sintered material composed of solid matrix of ice skeleton with air (+water vapour) saturated pores. Investigation of snow acoustic properties is useful to understand the interaction between snow structure and sound waves, which can be further used to devise non-destructive way for exploring physical (non-acoustic) properties of snow. The present paper discusses the experimental measurements of various acoustical properties of snow such as acoustic absorption coefficient, surface impedance and transmission losses across different snow samples, followed by inverse characterization of different geometrical parameters of snow. The snow samples were extracted from a natural snowpack and transported to a nearby controlled environmental facility at Patsio, located in the Great Himalayan range of India. An impedance tube system (ITS), working in the frequency range 63–6300 Hz, was used for acoustic measurements of these snow samples. The acoustic behaviour of snow was observed strongly dependent upon the incident acoustic frequency; for frequencies smaller than 1 kHz, the average acoustic absorption coefficient was found below than 0.4, however, for the frequencies more than 1 kHz it was found to be 0.85. The average acoustic transmission loss was observed from 1.45 dB cm⁻¹ to 3.77 dB cm⁻¹ for the entire frequency range. The real and imaginary components of normalized surface impedance of snow samples varied from 0.02 to 7.77 and −6.05 to 5.69, respectively. Further, the measured acoustic properties of snow were used for inverse characterization of non-acoustic geometrical parameters such as porosity, flow resistivity, tortuosity, viscous and thermal characteristic lengths using the equivalent fluid model proposed by Johnson, Champoux and Allard (JCA). Acoustically derived porosity and flow resistivity were also compared with experimentally measured values and good agreement was observed between them.     

Investigations on the acoustic transmission characteristics of underwater perforated panel structures

Perforated panel structures have a wide potential in underwater applications. However, up to now there has been little related research. The acoustic impedance of an underwater perforated panel is obtained based on the theories for air perforated panel sound absorption. In this paper sound transmission characteristics of underwater perforated panel structures are theoretically analyzed by the transfer matrix method. A formula for normal incidence sound transmission coefficients is given. The main factors that have effects on the acoustic transmission coefficient are analyzed by numerical simulations. The perforated panel structures made by ourselves are tested in a standing-wave tube by the four-sensor transfer-function method. The experimental results are well in accord with the results obtained by the numerical method, which proves that the theoretical analysis is correct. This paper has provided theoretical and experimental bases for the design of underwater perforated panel structures.