Influence of noise sensitivity on annoyance of indoor and outdoor noises in residential buildings

A survey and a laboratory experiment were conducted to investigate the influence of noise sensitivity on the annoyance caused by indoor residential noises and outdoor traffic noise. Results showed that noise sensitivity significantly influenced the annoyance level caused by both indoor and outdoor noise, consistent with previous studies on transportation noise. Annoyance level was significantly correlated with sensitivity in both the survey (r = 0.42–0.48 and 0.35 for indoor and outdoor noises, respectively) and the laboratory experiment (r = 0.25 and 0.14 for indoor and outdoor noises, respectively), in which noise exposure was controlled at 50 dBA. The correlation coefficient for indoor noise was higher than that for outdoor noise and was also higher than the average values (r = 0.3 and 0.22 for uncontrolled and controlled noise exposures, respectively) calculated using the results of several previous studies on outdoor transportation noise. Sensitivity was found to have a greater influence on the percentage of people who were highly annoyed by the indoor noise than it did on those affected by the outdoor noise.     

地铁沿线建筑内噪声多维度感受影响机制

随着城市铁路系统的快速发展,铁路沿线建筑内人群对地铁运行产生噪声的抱怨逐渐增多,为控制室内地铁噪声对人群所产生的负面影响,有必要对地铁噪声产生的多维度负面情绪进行评估。采集了79名受试者对建筑内地铁噪声的多维度负面感受(压抑感,不舒适度和不满意度),基于偏最小二乘法分析了主客观影响因素对多维度负面感受的作用机制,并比较了多维度负面感受在反映地铁噪声影响上的差异。结果表明,多维度负面感受主要取决于主观响度和声学参数,活动干扰度、地铁噪声的敏感度、厌烦度和适应性的影响明显更弱;3个多维度负面感受中,相比于压抑感,不舒适度和不满意度受主观响度的影响轻微更显著,在相同的主观响度感受下,不满意度等级最高。 该文可以为地铁沿线建筑物内噪声负面感受的评价和改善提供参考。     

Noise annoyance assessment of various urban road vehicle pass-by noises in isolation and combined with industrial noise: A laboratory study

Noise maps are diagnosis tools which represent the noise exposure situation using the energy-based index L_den (the day–evening–night level). Two major drawbacks may be attributed to noise maps: (1) energy-based indices only account for one acoustical factor (exposure level) that may give rise to annoyance; (2) combined exposures situations are left unframed.     

A standardised test environment to compare aircraft noise calculation programs

A new standardised test environment for aircraft noise calculation programs is presented. By means of this test environment different programs for aircraft noise calculation can be compared systematically. For this purpose a complete data set was developed, containing all relevant information needed to perform unambiguous aircraft noise calculations in the vicinity of an artificial airport. The input data is provided in a generic, non-program-specific form in order to be applicable to programs based on different calculation methods and data structures. In addition to the input data, guidelines on the file format of the results of calculations performed with different programs are specified to facilitate direct comparisons. The test environment and its data structure are outlined and examples of calculations according to this scheme are presented.     

Investigation of the dose-response relationship for road traffic noise in Assiut, Egypt

A field study has been carried out in urban Assiut city, Egypt. The goals of this study are: (1) to carry out measurements to evaluate road traffic noise levels, (2) to determine if these levels exceeds permissible levels, (3) to examine people’s attitudes towards road traffic noise, (4) to ascertain the relationship between road traffic noise levels and degree of annoyance. The measurements indicate that traffic noise noise levels are higher than those set by Egyptian noise standards and policy to protect public health and welfare in residential areas: equivalent continuous A - weighted sound pressure levels (L_A eq) = 80 dB and higher were recorded, while maximum permissible level is 65 dB. There is a strong relationship between road traffic noise levels and percentage of highly annoyed respondents. Higher road traffic noise levels mean that the percentage of respondents who feel highly annoyed is also increased.     

Pair-wise comparison experiment on subjective annoyance rating of noise samples with different frequency spectrums but same A-weighted level

A pair-wise comparison experiment on subjective annoyance rating of nine different noise samples is the focus of this paper. These noise samples collected from some associated facilities in urban residential areas are classified into three different types according to their frequency characteristics, and their A-weighted levels are equalized at 65 dBA. Based on the assessment of judging errors and statistical validity analysis of each testee’s evaluating matrix, invalid data are eliminated. The results show that the percentage of testees who chose noise samples containing more low frequency components had an obvious downside trend with the descending degree of annoyance from ‘the most annoyed’ to ‘the least annoyed’. The result indicates that noise which has low frequency characteristic is more annoying than noise of other frequencies when their A-weighted level are the same. Therefore, A-weighted level cannot scientifically assess noise annoyance which contains low frequency components mostly.     

复式降噪块地铁车轮减振降噪特性

为探究一种复式降噪块装置及其组合形式对某S型辐板地铁车轮的减振降噪效果和机理,在半消声室内,分别对1种自由状态下的标准车轮和3种形式的复式降噪块车轮开展阻尼特性及振动声辐射特性试验,并通过有限元建模对其进行了模态计算。结果表明:复式降噪块装置可在全频段内提高车轮阻尼比,并对车轮各部位有良好的减振效果,以轮辋和踏面的减振效果最为显著;其中,6个制振阻尼片形式的降噪块对车轮的降噪效果最显著,径向激励下的降噪量为13.1 dB(A),轴向激励下的降噪量为11.1 dB(A),降噪频段主要集中在1000 Hz以上中高频。该文研究结果是对列车降噪研究领域的补充和发展。     

Effect of masking noise on cognitive performance and annoyance in open plan offices

Even for low noise levels, employees working in open-plan offices declare they are disturbed by different sound sources and especially by intelligible speech. This paper presents two experiments that aim at studying the effects of sound sources on task performance and cognitive load. In the first experiment, thirty-five individuals were assigned a serial memory task in four noise conditions: printers, intelligible speech, non-intelligible speech and phone rings. Noise annoyance was assessed by measuring task performance and cognitive workload (NASA-TLX). Although there was no significant difference between intelligible speech, unintelligible speech and phone ring tone signals in terms of annoyance, the performance in a memory task decreased in the presence of intelligible speech. In the second experiment, the relevance of a new intelligibility index was evaluated. This index was derived from eSII as defined by Rhebergen et al. (2006) to deal with fluctuating noise as speech babble. Fifty-five subjects performed a serial memory task in four STIt (time varying Speech Transmission Index calculated for every 12.5 ms in dynamic environment) conditions (from 0.38 to 0.69) while STI values were kept constant (around 0.36). No significant difference appeared between the decreases in performance observed with multiple levels of intelligibility. However, a significant difference between two groups of individuals appeared in performance measurements. The group of better performers seemed to be less affected by the high level of intelligibility condition than the other ones.     

A three-dimensional physical model of MRI noise based on current noise sources in a conductor

Magnetic flux noise is generated by any conductor in equilibrium with a bath as a result of random fluctuating currents. A physical model of this flux noise is proposed, based on allowable current patterns in the conductor, which we describe as natural current modes. This model gives insight into the spatial characteristics of the magnetic noise which is encountered in a variety of magnetic measurements and imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).     

Aspects concerning the acoustical performance of school buildings in Portugal

Acoustic measurements were performed in eight schools of different levels of education (from kindergarten to college) located in Viseu – Portugal. The acoustic evaluation was made in order to analyze the most common problems that may condition the acoustic environment inside school building.     

Simulating the effect of acoustic treatment types for residential balconies with road traffic noise

Development of design guides to estimate the difference in speech interference level due to road traffic noise between a reference position and balcony position or façade position is explored. A previously established and validated theoretical model incorporating direct, specular and diffuse reflection paths is used to create a database of results across a large number of scenarios. Nine balcony types with variable acoustic treatments are assessed to provide acoustic design guidance on optimised selection of balcony acoustic treatments based on location and street type. In total, the results database contains 9720 scenarios on which multivariate linear regression is conducted in order to derive an appropriate design guide equation. The best fit regression derived is a multivariable linear equation including modified exponential equations on each of nine deciding variables, (1) diffraction path difference, (2) ratio of total specular energy to direct energy, (3) distance loss between reference position and receiver position, (4) distance from source to balcony façade, (5) height of balcony floor above street, (6) balcony depth, (7) height of opposite buildings, (8) diffusion coefficient of buildings and (9) balcony average absorption. Overall, the regression correlation coefficient, R², is 0.89 with 95% confidence standard error of ±3.4 dB.     

纳米器件电流噪声的散射理论统一模型研究

传统散射理论在研究器件噪声特性时,并没有考虑非相干输运和库仑作用对散粒噪声的抑制,而在实际纳米器件中这两种效应不可忽略.本文基于散射区等效接触端模型推导了考虑上述两种效应的电流噪声散射理论统一模型,该模型适用于从相干输运到非相干输运的整个输运区,并同时考虑了泡利不相容原理和库仑作用对散粒噪声的抑制.本文也提出了一种基于统一模型的电流噪声数值模拟方法,该方法所得散射区特性与散射区等效接触端模型特性一致. 关键词： 电流噪声 散射理论 统一模型     

具有频率噪声的单模激光线性模型随机共振

将频率有涨落的周期信号输入单模激光增益模型,计算出输出光强的相关函数及功率谱,对信噪比随噪声强度和系统参数的变化进行了研究. 结果表明:信噪比随频率噪声强度的变化、抽运噪声强度的变化、量子噪声强度的变化均出现随机共振;信噪比随增益系数和损失系数的变化也出现随机共振. 关键词： 频率噪声 功率谱 随机共振     

Design and experimental tests of active control barriers for low-frequency stationary noise reduction in urban outdoor environment

Active noise control (ANC) techniques are based on the emission of an antiphase signal in order to cancel the noise produced by a primary source. ANC has been successfully applied especially for reducing noise in confined environments, such as headphones and ducts. In this study, we present an application of ANC concepts to the design of an anti-noise barrier for an outdoor environment and its experimental testing. Even though passive techniques are effective in noise reduction at middle-high frequencies, they become less efficient at low frequencies (below 300 Hz) due to the limited dimensions of commonly deployable barriers. In this paper, we analyze the properties of a low-cost active noise system able to efficiently operate on stationary, almost pure-tone, low-frequency noise, such as that produced by electrical transformers and reactors in power and transformation plants. A prototype has been implemented and on-the-field experimental tests have been carried out. The results (confirmed also by numerical simulations) demonstrate a remarkable efficiency in the far field, with a reduction up to 15 dB with respect to the absence of the ANC system.     

Growth in a restricted solid on solid model with correlated noise

We introduce correlated growth into a restricted solid on solid model (RSOS), a stochastic deposition model with a constraint on neighboring height differences. A two-dimensional lattice model is used in which particles are deposited via horizontal Levy flight steps with a step length distribution exponentf. Though RSOS is in the same universality class as ballistic deposition for uncorrelated deposition, it appears to depart from it for strong correlations. Forf=1, the short-range limit is reached and both exponents and, which describe the dependence of surface width on time and strip length, tend to 1. Forf>1 we retreat to an enhanced algorithm, searching for growth sites which become excessively rare. We find an unusual short-time dependence, but still tends to 1. The number of growth sitesG shows saturation forf<1, while forf1 we observeG/L0 as the strip lengthL increases. Finally, we test directly the relationship of noise-noise correlation strength tof, and find that a direct comparison between correlated growth models and theoretical predictions for growth with correlated noise is so far unjustified.     

Stochastic resonance in a gain--noise model of a single-mode laser driven by pump noise and quantum noise with cross-correlation between real and imaginary parts under direct signal modulation

Stochastic resonance (SR) is studied in a gain--noise model of a single-mode laser driven by a coloured pump noise and a quantum noise with cross-correlation between real and imaginary parts under a direct signal modulation. By using a linear approximation method, we find that the SR appears during the variation of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) separately with the pump noise self-correlation time \tau , the noise correlation coefficient between the real part and the imaginary part of the quantum noise \lambda_q , the attenuation coefficient \gamma and the deterministic steady-state intensity I_0 . In addition, it is found that the SR can be characterized not only by the dependence of SNR on the noise variables of \tau and \lambda_q, but also by the dependence of SNR on the laser system variables of \gamma and I₀. Thus our investigation extends the characteristic quantity of SR proposed before.     

Active noise control of a diesel generator in a luxury yacht

Active noise control has been applied to a variety of systems in order to improve performance without the increases in size and weight that would otherwise be required by traditional passive noise control treatments. This paper investigates the application of an active noise control system to the control of generator noise in the master cabin of a luxury yacht. A multichannel, multi-tonal active noise control system employing loudspeakers and microphones in the master cabin of the yacht is investigated. It is shown that, due to the high number of engine orders produced by the generator, in order to achieve significantly perceptible levels of noise attenuation it is necessary to control at least 7 individual orders. A controller is investigated which targets 19 engine orders and it is shown to achieve in excess of 5 dB broadband attenuation, whilst achieving up to 23 dB attenuation in individual orders. This corresponds to a 23% reduction in the Zwicker loudness.     

Removal of low-concentration benzene in indoor air with plasma-MnO2 catalysis system

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) and combined plasma-MnO₂ catalytic (CPMC) air cleaners were tested for removal of low-concentration benzene in air. Both air cleaners were made of stainless steel needle matrix plate and used DC corona discharger. The effects of discharge power and relative humidity (RH) on benzene removal efficiency were investigated in a closed chamber. The intermediate products produced in purification processes were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The concentrations of discharge byproducts and CO₂ selectivity produced in both processes were also compared. It was found that the benzene removal efficiency increased with discharge power in both systems; With the increase of RH in air, benzene removal efficiency firstly increased and then decreased in NTP while it gradually decreased in CPMC. For a fixed discharge power of 9 W and RH of 20% in CPMC, the conversion of benzene increased from 82.9% to 89.6%, the CO₂ selectivity increased from 38% to 80%, the concentration of O₃ decreased from 25.3 ppm to 1.3 ppm, and NO₂ formation decreased from 234 ppm to 25.7 ppm, compared with NTP.     

Sound radiation and sound quality characteristics of refrigerator noise in real living environments

The characteristics of various types of refrigerator noise were investigated in an anechoic chamber and in a real living environment - a 100 m² apartment which is a common size in Korea. It was found that the sound pressure level of the refrigerator noise in the real living room was about 10 dB higher than the level in the anechoic chamber at the same position (1 m in front of refrigerator). In addition, a tolerance level for refrigerator noise was determined by subjective evaluation experiments. Refrigerator noise was presented by a loudspeaker placed in the kitchen where the refrigerator is normally located. Level 2 responses to the subjective evaluation (“hardly perceivable”) corresponded to a sound pressure level of about 26 dB(A), for which 90% of participants were satisfied with the level of refrigerator noise. A semantic differential test using various adjectives was also conducted to evaluate the sound quality of refrigerator noise. With the semantic differential and the factor analysis, adjectives used in this experiment were grouped into three factors. From the results of correlation and multiple regression analyses on the psychoacoustical parameters and subjective evaluations of 30 kinds of refrigerators, sound quality index which predict the subjective rating score were proposed.     

A modified pitchfork bifurcation as a model of the TI–TII transition in liquid helium counterflow with external noise

An amended pitchfork bifurcation is introduced to model recent experiments by Griswold and Tough on superfluid turbulence in liquid helium counterflow subject to strong external noise. We adopt the generalized white noise limit of Blankenship and Papanicolaou to take a short-correlation-time limit of the nonlinear noise which enters into the model, and we implement this limit by means of the wideband perturbation expansion. Novel boundary conditions are applied to the resultant diffusion process in order to obtain behavior in qualitative agreement with the observations at low vortex line density. We are able to account for the sharp peak in probability observed experimentally at a small positive line density. The drift and diffusion of our diffusion process may be estimated experimentally; we describe how to do this.