Anechoic chamber qualification: traverse method,inverse square law analysis method,and nature of test signal

Qualification of anechoic chambers is intended to demonstrate that the chamber supports the intended free-field environment within some permissible tolerance bounds. Key qualification issues include the method used to obtain traverse data, the analysis method for the data, and the use of pure tone or broadband noise as the chamber excitation signal. This paper evaluates the relative merits of continuous versus discrete traverses, of fixed versus optimal reference analysis of the traverse data, and of the use of pure tone versus broadband signals. The current practice of using widely space discrete sampling along a traverse is shown to inadequately sample the complexity of the sound field extant with pure tone traverses, but is suitable for broadband traverses. Continuous traverses, with spatial resolution on the order of 15% of the wavelength at the frequency of interest, are shown to be necessary to fully resolve the spatial complexity of pure tone qualifications. The use of an optimal reference method for computing the deviations from inverse square law is shown to significantly improve the apparent performance of the chamber for pure tone qualifications. Finally, the use of broadband noise as the test signal, as compared to pure tone traverses over the same span, is demonstrated to be a marginal indicator of chamber performance.     

The steady-state evaluation of small anechoic chambers

An historical survey of the techniques of measurement and assessment of anechoic chambers is given with a view to deciding the optimum method of evaluating the new anechoic chamber at Bradford University. Experimental results taken on the chamber, using the inverse distance and frequency response tests, are presented. An attempt is made to correlate the results of these tests with predicted results obtained from steady-state measurements taken, in an interference tube, on the novel type of absorber used in the chamber. In conclusion, guidelines for the design of small anechoic chambers are given.     

骨导超声听觉感知进展与研究*

骨导超声听觉感知是超声振动通过头骨传导产生听觉感知的一种特殊现象。本文首先介绍了骨导超声听觉感知研究领域的国内外发展现状,在此基础上设计了一套骨导超声听觉感知测试系统,并完成了系统的软、硬件平台实现。利用该系统,分别对听力正常和听力障碍被试者进行了主观测试,围绕单频超声感知效果及单频可听声、汉语语音由超声载波调制后的感知效果开展研究,比较了多种不同调制方式下的主观感知效果,并分析了空气传导声对实验结果的影响。     

Construction of an anechoic chamber for aeroacoustic experiments and examination of its acoustic parameters

The acoustic parameters of a new anechoic chamber constructed at Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) are presented. This chamber is designed to be used, among other things, for measuring noise from aerodynamic sources. Sound-absorbing wedges lining the walls of the chamber were studied in an interferometer with normal wave incidence. The results are compared to the characteristics of sound-absorbing wedges of existing anechoic facilities. Metrological examination of the acoustic parameters of the PNRPU anechoic chamber demonstrates that free field conditions are established in it, which will make it possible to conduct quantitative acoustic experiments.     

Metallic spherical anechoic chamber for antenna pattern measurement

Anechoic chambers are used for indoor antenna measurements. The common method of constructing an anechoic chamber is to cover all inside walls by the electromagnetic absorbers. In this paper, a fully metallic spherical chamber structure is presented in which the propagation of the electromagnetic waves inside the chamber is controlled and they are guided to an absorber. In the proposed method, an appropriate quiet zone is obtained, and unlike ordinary anechoic chambers, the absorber usage amount is reduced greatly. The performance of the chamber is evaluated by simulation. The results show that the proposed method could provide a useful technique for the indoor antenna measurements.     

A demonstration of active control of broadband sound

This paper describes a short experiment undertaken to demonstrate how easily broad-band active control of sound can be used to tackle real industrial problems. Ten decibles of the low frequency sound entering an anechoic chamber through a lobby was blocked by using a single degree of freedom system. The experiment was set up, tested and demonstrated in a day.     

Effects of Microphone Type on Acoustic Measures of Voice

Acoustic measures provide an objective means to describe pathological voices and are a routine component of the clinical voice examination. Because the voice sample is obtained using a microphone, microphone characteristics have the potential to influence the values of parameters obtained from a voice sample. This project examined how the choice of microphone affects key voice parameters and investigated how one might compensate for such microphone effects through filtering or by including additional parameters in the decision process. A database of 53 normal voice samples and 100 pathological voice samples was used in four experiments conducted in an anechoic chamber using four different microphones. One omnidirectional microphone and three cardioid microphones were used in these experiments. The original voice samples were presented to each microphone through a speaker located in an anechoic chamber, and the output of each microphone sampled to computer disk. Each microphone modified the frequency spectrum of the voice signal; this, in turn, affected the values of the voice parameters obtained. These microphone effects reduced the accuracy with which acoustic measures of voice could be used to discriminate pathological from normal voices. Discrimination performance improved when the microphone output was filtered to compensate for microphone frequency response. Performance also improved when spectral moment coefficient parameters were added to the vocal function parameters already in use.     

Experimental study of composite medium with simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity

Inclassicalelectrodynamics,theresponse(typicallyfrequencydependent)ofamaterialtoelectricandmagneticfieldsischaracterizedbytwofundamentalquantities,thepermittivityeandthepermeabilitym.Bothmandearepositiveinmostmaterials.In1968,Veselago[1]predictedthattheelectromagneticwavepropagationinamediumhavingsimultaneouslynegativepermittivityandpermeabilityshouldgiverisetoseveralpeculiarcharacteristics.Butnoneofhispredictionsweretestedduringthelastcentury,becausenonaturalmaterialswithsimultaneouslynegativ…     

Viability of yeast cells in well controlled propagating and standing ultrasonic plane waves

Recent studies have shown that there is no loss of cell viability when the cells are subjected to ultrasonic standing wave fields in acoustic cell retention systems. These systems are characterised by waves that spatially vary in pressure amplitude in the direction of sound propagation. In this work an anechoic 'one-dimensional' sonication chamber has been developed that produces propagating waves, which differ from standing waves in that the pressure amplitude remains constant as the wave travels in a medium with negligible attenuation. The viability of yeast cell suspensions as a function of treatment time was investigated during exposure to both standing and propagating wave fields with frequencies slightly above 2 MHz. The influence of 12% (vol/vol) of ethanol in water on the spatial arrangement of the cells in suspension was also studied. Changes in yeast cell morphology caused by the different types of suspension media and the ultrasonic treatment were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The agglomeration of yeast cells within the pressure nodal planes appears to minimise damaging effects due to ultrasonic fields.     

频率步进太赫兹脉冲成像技术研究

针对太赫兹频段具有大带宽的特点,阐述了太赫兹波段进行高分辨力成像的原理,按照微波上变频的方法,将微波源通过混频和倍频方式得到太赫兹频率源;采用频率步进脉冲体制,设计和实现了220 GHz太赫兹主动成像系统;并在暗室和外场进行了分辨力测试和拉距实验,获得的纵向分辨力达4 cm,测试距离达10 m。     

利用遗传算法由电阻抗计算四阶带通箱的低频响应

提出了一种基于电阻抗得到四阶带通扬声器系统低频频率响应的方法。该方法无需消声室,首先建立扬声器系统的电阻抗集中参数电路模型并测量得到电阻抗曲线,然后运用遗传算法优化模型中的元件参数值,使得由模型计算得到的阻抗曲线与测得的阻抗曲线相吻合,再根据模型计算得到低频响应曲线。测量结果表明理论曲线与实测曲线相吻合,说明基于电阻抗得到低频响应的方法是可行的和有效的。     

Method for measuring violin sound radiation based on bowed glissandi and its application to sound synthesis

This work presents a method for measuring and computing violin-body directional frequency responses, which are used for violin sound synthesis. The approach is based on a frame-weighted deconvolution of excitation and response signals. The excitation, consisting of bowed glissandi, is measured with piezoelectric transducers built into the bridge. Radiation responses are recorded in an anechoic chamber with multiple microphones placed at different angles around the violin. The proposed deconvolution algorithm computes impulse responses that, when convolved with any source signal (captured with the same transducer), produce a highly realistic violin sound very similar to that of a microphone recording. The use of motion sensors allows for tracking violin movements. Combining this information with the directional responses and using a dynamic convolution algorithm, helps to improve the listening experience by incorporating the violinist motion effect in stereo.     

Design and construction of an anechoic chamber at the national physical laboratory of India

The new anechoic room of the National Physical Laboratory of India provides a free space of 3·5 × 3·5 × 3·5 m with a lower cut-off frequency of 70 Hz. Design details and performance characteristics of the chamber are discussed. Measures adopted to reduce the ambient noise level are also described.     

Exploring azimuth effects with an anthropometric manikin.

In these experiments, the effects of sound direction on the eardrum response of an anthropometric manikin (the KEMAR manikin) were investigated. Pure tones and pink noise (analyzed in 1/3-octave bandwidths) over a wide frequency range were used as signals as the manikin rotated 360 degrees with respect to a point source in a anechoic chamber. The simulated eardrum SPL was compared with the averaged human field-to-eardrum data reported by Shaw [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 56, 1848--1861 (1974)]. It was concluded that the KEMAR manikin can be used up to frequencies of approximately 8.0 kHz, with (1) 1/3-octave pink noise signals to measure a response equivalent to tht obtained by averaging over a number of humans, and (2) pure-tone signals to measure the response equivalent to that of a single human having average head and ear dimensions.     

Water content and its effect on ultrasound propagation in concrete--the possibility of NDE

It is known that water content or moisture affects the strength of concrete. The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of the NDE of concrete from a knowledge of the relationship between water content and ultrasonic propagation in concrete. The results of measurements made on the ultrasound velocity and the frequency component on ultrasonic propagation as a function of the water content in concrete are reported. Test pieces of concrete made from common materials were made for the fundamental studies. The test piece dimensions were 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm in length. Test pieces were immersed in water for about 50 days to saturate them. To measure the effect of different water contents, test pieces were put in a drying chamber to change the amount of water between measurements. This procedure was repeated until the concrete was completely dried and the weight no longer changed. Water contents were defined as weight percentage to full dried state. Thus water content could be changed from 8% to 0%. Using the pulse transmission method, ultrasonic propagation in the frequency range 20 to 100 kHz was measured as a function of water content. The sound velocity varied gradually from 3000 m/s to 4500 m/s according to the water content. The frequency of maximum transmission also depended on the water content in this frequency range. It is considered that the ultrasonic NDE of concrete strength is feasible.     

Measurement and modeling of diffraction from an edge of a thin panel

The diffraction of sound from an edge of a thin chipboard panel was measured in an anechoic chamber, and compared to simulations based on the diffraction formulation developed by Svensson et al. [Svensson UP, Fred RI, Vanderkooy J. An analytic secondary source model of edge diffraction impulse responses. J Acoust Soc Am 1999;106(5):2331-44]. The measurements and simulations were performed for a line of receiver positions below the panel to include cases for which the direct sound had an unobstructed propagation path to the receivers, as well as cases for which the direct sound was occluded by the panel. Comparison of the measured and simulated responses is provided in both the time and frequency-domains, and shows that the differences between them are small over the entire audible frequency range. This case study verifies that the applied diffraction-modeling method gives accurate results, and that the assumptions of ideal source and wedge characteristics inherent in the method do not preclude its use in simulations of realistic scenarios.     

Investigations on the balloon as an impulse source

Measurements of impulses produced by bursting balloons are presented. Various sizes of balloons were popped with a mechanical device in an anechoic chamber and recorded with a spherical microphone array. The power responses and directivity of the balloons are analyzed. Results indicate that power responses have two emphasized frequencies which depend on balloon size and inflation level. Larger balloons radiated more energy and higher inflation levels resulted in stronger high frequency content. Balloon directivity patterns are stable over repetitions. However, balloons do not radiate omnidirectionally. The degree of omnidirectionality improves with balloon size and for midrange frequencies.     

数字化声学测量技术 Ⅲ.非消声室环境中扬声器的测试

由于建造消声室费用太高，如何在非消声室环境测量扬声器的特性是众多中小电声器材生产厂家极为关心的问题。本文介绍一种可在非消声室环境中进行测量的数字化的扬声器测量系统，本文论述了它的基本原理及两个关键问题，即激盛信号的选择以及对单位脉冲响应加窗的问题。本文还讨论了窗口的宽度和形状对所测扬声器频率特性的影响，及对测量房间的要求。     

Parametric Study of the Noise from Vortex Rings with Various Diameters

A technique for studying the aeroacoustic parameters of vortex rings with various diameters in an anechoic chamber is developed. The motion trajectories of vortex rings produced by a piston generator with nozzles with various exit diameters are studied. Spectral analysis of the noise of vortex rings for various distances from nozzles with various diameters is carried out. For the first time, the dependences of the fundamental radiation frequency on the time of a ring’s motion are obtained in dimensionless form. The data on noise from turbulent vortex rings confirm the conclusion that sound from rings with different diameters and velocities is emitted by the same mechanism.     

Application of field-cycling NMR relaxometry to the study of ultrasound-induced effects in the molecular dynamics and order of mesomorphic materials

A salient characteristic of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques is the possibility to scan nuclear spin evolutions within a broad Larmor frequency range. Special instrumentation was developed to extend nuclear spin relaxation studies up to proton Larmor frequencies in the sub-kilohertz regime, a technique known as field-cycling NMR relaxometry. This article refers to an experimental version where the sample under study is selectively subjected to ultrasonic irradiation. The fact that ultrasound couples selectively to the collective dynamics of liquid crystals, offers new insights for the study of the molecular dynamics in these materials using NMR relaxation.