Architectural Acoustics AR 1405

B Arch degree Sem IV Exam April 2018

Answer Key

Part A

a) Threshold of audibility & Pain

definition of audibility and how once the decibel limit is reached is defined as pain

Sound. By definition, zero decibels is the threshold of human hearing and 130 dB is the threshold of pain.

b) Sound pressure and Sound pressure level

Sound: a small compressional disturbance of equilibrium in an elastic medium, which causes the sensation
of hearing ..definition of Sound pressure and the criteria of levels of sound pressure

c) Behaviour of sound in enclosed spaces

How diff room dimensions and shapes and sizes affect sound properties . cite with examples

d) Reverberation of time and sabine formula

Reverberation is an important quality of the acoustical environment of a space. It is the one quality that
affects the intelligibility of speech and the quality of conditions for music of all types. Reverberation
time is the time it takes the sound level to decrease 60 dB after the source has stopped producing the
sound. Each type of use has its own preferred range of reverberation time, shorter times being best for
smaller spaces and longer times working best for larger spaces.
Definition and write down sabine formula - Sabin: the unit of absorption; theoretically, 1 ft' of surface having
an absorption coefficient of 1.00 (I m2
of surface having an absorption of 1.00). Sabin formula: the formula that relates reverberation time to a
room's volume and total acoustical absorption. In SI units, the constant is 0.16 instead of 0.05.

e) Sound transmission loss

Transmission loss (TL): the difference, in decibels, between the sound power incident on a barrier in a
source room and the sound power radiated into a receiving room on the opposite side of the barrier. The
transmission loss varies with the frequency being tested.

f) Noise reduction coefficient

Noise reduction coefficient (NRC): the average sound absorption coefficient to the nearest 0.05,
measured at the four one-third octave band center frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz

g) Mounting of Acoustical Materials

Cite various acoustical materials and their use in controlling sound of various frequencies

h) Acoustical Plaster

Cite the various use of Acoustical Plaster

Part B

II) Briefly explain the various properties of sound

The velocity of sound depends on the medium in which it is traveling and the temperature of the
medium. In air at sea level the velocity of sound is approximately 1130 ft/sec (344 m/s). For acoustical
purposes in buildings, the temperature effect on velocity is not significant. Frequency is the number of
cycles completed per second; it is measured in hertz (Hz). One hertz equals one cycle per second.
Power is the quality of acoustical energy as measured in watts. Because a point source emits waves in a
spherical shape in free space, the sound intensity (watts per unit area)
Inverse Square Law The basic inverse square law is derived where sound—intensity is inversely proportional
to the square of the distance from the source.
Sound Intensity The sensitivity of the human ear covers a vast range (from 10-16 W/cm2 to 10-3 W/cm2).
Because of this and the fact that the sensation of hearing is proportional to the logarithm of the source
intensity, the decibel is used in acoustical descriptions and calculations. The decibel conveniently relates
actual sound intensity to the way humans experience
Sound. By definition, zero decibels is the threshold of human

III)
a) Effect of temperature difference
Pressure is related to sound and temperature affects the density of the air in the room and the various
temperature difference and humidity affect sound propagation

b) Landscape elements
In terms of decibel levels from outside environment which influences the sound intake in interiors explain
how landscape helps in mitigation of such unwanted sound especially in cases of hospitals and schools

c) Inverse square law of sound

explain the inverse square law of sound

IV)
Explain how room dimensions affect sound properties and how these defects can be rectified by various
means

V)
Reverberation time and how reverberation time is related to room dimension properties . Use of sabine
formula and how the variables in the formula is related to room dimensions

VI)
Explain the different sources of noise - airborne, structure born etc
Explain with examples how structural borne and airborne noises are mitigated using various means

VII)
Explain Airborne noise - the various sources - outside and inside and how sound absorptive materials are
used in walls , ceiling and floors. and how landscape elements help in mitigating outward noises too

VII)
Schools have standards for decibel levels inside and how much decibel levels are allowed from outside
Explain how this is solved in schools design

IX)
Explain with sketched the various sound absorbive materials used to mitigate various sound frequencies
with regards to interiors of various functions that helps in controlling reverberation time, mitigate noise and
echoes