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).