The need for intelligible speech or pleasant, undistorted music is

fundamental to the design of auditoriums, performing arts

centers, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas, lecture halls, and
churches.
Because good sound is central to the function of so many facilities, it
is essential that architects consider the acoustical properties of any
venue early in the development process. In practice, that means
acousticians and sound system designers should be brought into the
design team from the start, preferably as early as the programming
phase, to ensure that acoustics and sound reinforcement are included
in infrastructure planning
The Difference Between Light and Sound
Because human senses are analogous in many ways, there is a
mistaken tendency to think of sound as being similar to light, giving
the impression that all you need to do is “illuminate” an area with
sound. Unfortunately, this analogy falls short because of the basic
physics involved.
The airborne wavelengths that we perceive as sound are much
longer than the electromagnetic waves that we sense as light. When
multiple light sources are beamed at the same place in a room, the
light level increases without producing detectable visual distortion.
By contrast, multiple sound waves projecting into the same place
within a room can interfere adversely with each other, and can even
cancel each other out, unless the room acoustics and sound system
are specifically designed not to do so.
The three major goals of acoustical design
in architecture

Sound distribution within spaces designed for hearing

music or speech
Sound isolation between spaces where privacy is
needed
Noise control within spaces
 Course contents

- Basics of sound
- The Acoustic Wave Equations -
- behavior of sound in closed places-
- Absorbing , isolating and reflecting -
materials
Basics of Sound
Sound•
Sound is a sequence of waves of pressure that propagates through
compressible media such as air or water. During propagation, waves can be
reflected, refracted, or attenuated by the medium.

•Sound Wave Properties and Characteristics

Sound waves are often simplified to a description in terms of
sinusoidal plane waves, which are characterized by these generic
properties:

a 3D plane wave. Each color represents

a different phase of the wave.
 •Frequency: is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time.
It is also referred to as temporal frequency f. The period is the duration of
one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the
frequency. The period, usually denoted by T, is the length of time taken by
one cycle, and is the reciprocal of the frequency f:

•Wavelength λ: is the distance between consecutive corresponding points

of the same phase, such as peaks, troughs, or zero crossings.
•Amplitude: is the magnitude of change in the oscillating variable with each
oscillation within an oscillating system. Peak-to-peak amplitude is the change
between peak (highest amplitude value) and trough (lowest amplitude value,
which can be negative).
Speed of sound c: is the distance travelled during a
unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an
elastic medium.

where B is a coefficient of stiffness, (or the modulus of bulk elasticity),

ρ is the density of the medium

•Sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the local pressure
deviation from the ambient (average, or equilibrium)
atmospheric pressure caused by a sound wave. Sound
pressure can be measured using a microphone in air and a
hydrophone in water. The SI unit for sound pressure p is
the pascal (symbol: Pa).
 Wave Motion •
The wave motion results from the vibration (oscillation) of the
particles in a medium

A. the acoustic medium must contain particles that are elastic spring
like.
B. The motion of each particle sets adjacent particles in motion.
Energy is transferred over great distances by small local motions of
particles.
 Types of waves: Differences in motion of particles with
respect to motion of the wave front

1. Transverse. Particles move perpendicular to wave front. Like a

wave in a rope or slinky.
2. Longitudinal. Particles move forward/backward re wave front.
Like sound (or slinky).
3. Combination waves. Both horizontal and perpendicular motion.
Like familiar surface waves on water.