Uncertainty in Acoustics


Book Description

This guide to estimating uncertainties in the measurement, prediction and assessment of noise and vibration applies across environmental noise and vibration, occupational noise and vibration exposure, and building and architectural acoustics. The book collates information from the various Standards and from research, with explanation, examples and case studies. It enables estimation of uncertainty in the measurement and prediction of acoustic quantities, suitable for use in environmental impact and occupational exposure assessments. It is for acoustic consultants, mechanical and building service engineers, architect and building professionals and environmental health officers. Bob Peters worked for more than forty years in acoustics and noise control – teaching, research, consultancy. He was a principal acoustic consultant with Applied Acoustic Design, a senior research fellow at London South Bank University, and a tutor on Institute of Acoustics distance learning courses.




Understanding Acoustics


Book Description

This textbook provides a unified approach to acoustics and vibration suitable for use in advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate courses on vibration and fluids. The book includes thorough treatment of vibration of harmonic oscillators, coupled oscillators, isotropic elasticity, and waves in solids including the use of resonance techniques for determination of elastic moduli. Drawing on 35 years of experience teaching introductory graduate acoustics at the Naval Postgraduate School and Penn State, the author presents a hydrodynamic approach to the acoustics of sound in fluids that provides a uniform methodology for analysis of lumped-element systems and wave propagation that can incorporate attenuation mechanisms and complex media. This view provides a consistent and reliable approach that can be extended with confidence to more complex fluids and future applications. Understanding Acoustics opens with a mathematical introduction that includes graphing and statistical uncertainty, followed by five chapters on vibration and elastic waves that provide important results and highlight modern applications while introducing analytical techniques that are revisited in the study of waves in fluids covered in Part II. A unified approach to waves in fluids (i.e., liquids and gases) is based on a mastery of the hydrodynamic equations. Part III demonstrates extensions of this view to nonlinear acoustics. Engaging and practical, this book is a must-read for graduate students in acoustics and vibration as well as active researchers interested in a novel approach to the material.







Noise Mapping in the EU


Book Description

Noise mapping is the first tool to effectively assess noise exposure, communicating information to citizens, and defining effective action plans for protecting citizens from high noise levels and preserving quiet areas in urban European Community environments. Indeed, strategic noise maps are now required in the European Union for all population ce







Occupational Noise and Workplace Acoustics


Book Description

Modern noise research and assessment techniques are commonly used in the workplace and our personal living environment. Occupational Noise and Workplace Acoustics presents new, innovative, advanced research and evaluation methods of parameters characterizing acoustic field and noise in the working environment, as well as acoustic properties of rooms and noise reduction measures. This includes acoustic field visualization methods, field imaging techniques, wireless sensor networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT); optimization methods using genetic algorithms; acoustic quality assessment methods for rooms; and methods for measuring ultrasonic noise in the frequency range of 10-40 kHz. This book is a valuable resource for individuals and students interested in the areas of acoustic and sound engineering as it provides: The latest techniques and methods in the field of noise reduction and improvement of acoustic comfort, Innovative and advanced acoustic field visualization techniques for those with an auditory impairment, Explains noise reduction through proper workplace design, Discusses use of wireless sensor networks and the IoT for monitoring noise, and Provides acoustic quality assessment methods. "The authors’ intention to expound on advanced issues in a lucid and accessible way was rewarded with success. In the book, an expert will find a number of hints helpful in solving actual problems, whereas a layperson will be able to form a view on challenges facing contemporary technology. What should also be emphasized is the book’s soundness in documenting these advanced theses and postulates with diligently conducted empirical research. Despite a wide thematic range, the book is written consistently and under no circumstances can be considered a collection of randomly selected problems. The content corresponds fully to the title. The authors are consistent in acquainting the reader with topical scientific issues concerning assessment of acoustic hazards and the methodology of combating them." —Professor Zbigniew Dąbrowski, BEng, PhD, DSc, Warsaw University of Technology




Springer Handbook of Acoustics


Book Description

Acoustics, the science of sound, has developed into a broad interdisciplinary field encompassing the academic disciplines of physics, engineering, psychology, speech, audiology, music, architecture, physiology, neuroscience and others. Here is an unparalleled modern handbook reflecting this richly interdisciplinary nature edited by one of the acknowledged masters in the field, Thomas Rossing. Researchers and students benefit from the comprehensive contents spanning: animal acoustics including infrasound and ultrasound, environmental noise control, music and human speech and singing, physiological and psychological acoustics, architectural acoustics, physical and engineering acoustics, medical acoustics and ocean acoustics. The Springer Handbook of Acoustics reviews the most important areas of acoustics, with emphasis on current research. The authors of the various chapters are all experts in their fields. Each chapter is richly illustrated with figures and tables. The latest research and applications are incorporated throughout, e.g. computer recognition and synthesis of speech, physiological acoustics, psychological acoustics, thermoacoustics, diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications and acoustical oceanography. This new edition of the Handbook features over 11 revised and expanded chapters, new illustrations and two new chapters covering microphone arrays, acoustic metamaterials and acoustic emission. These improvements will make the handbook even more useful as a reference and a guide for researchers and students in every branch of acoustics. Praise for the first edition: "This treatise is a successful attempt to cover in one book the diverse field of acoustics, which ranges from physics to music and from formal mathematics to technological applications. ... It is this reviewer's opinion that a handbook like Rossing's, which covers the whole field of acoustics, serves a real purpose because it not only gives one a chance to see how one's specialty is covered but it also permits one to make a quick survey of other acoustical areas." (Leo Beranek, American Journal of Physics, Vol. 77 (12), December, 2009) "The Springer Handbook of Acoustics falls into that exceptional list. ...every physics department should have a copy available." (John L. Hubisz, The Physics Teacher, Vol. 48, March, 2010) "This handbook is an excellent addition to the acoustics literature. ... The handbook nicely covers both basics and advances in several areas of acoustics. Several chapters provide good mathematical depth, making the handbook useful as a research and technical resource. ...Overall, a very useful educational and research resource. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (M. G. Prasad, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (5), January, 2008) "This book covers a wide range of topics and the inclusion of musical acoustics, computer and electronic music appeal to me (singer, song-writer, performer and recording studio co-owner). This handbook is probably well suited for an undergraduate-level introduction to an acoustics course. ... The wide range of topics, inclusion of music-related chapters, eye-pleasing presentations and other useful features make this a very good book to have on your shelf." (Tim Casey, International Journal of Acoustics and Vibration, Vol. 13 (1), 2008) "The Springer Handbook of Acoustics comprises 28 chapters written by 33 authors. The Handbook of Acoustics is useful as a source book for anyone who needs or wants to become familiar with the jargon and issues related to a specific subfield of acoustics ... ." (Robert I. Odom, Siam Review, Vol. 50 (3), 2008) The Springer Handbook of Acoustics reviews the most important areas of acoustics, with emphasis on current research. The authors of the various chapters are all experts in their fields. Each chapter is richly illustrated with figures and tables. The latest research and applications are incorporated throughout, e.g. computer recognition and synthesis of speech, physiological acoustics, psychological acoustics, thermoacoustics, diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications and acoustical oceanography. This new edition of the Handbook features over 13 revised and expanded chapters, new illustrations and 3 new chapters covering microphone arrays, acoustic metamaterials and acoustic emission. These improvements will make the handbook even more useful as a reference and a guide for researchers and students in every branch of acoustics.




Sound Insulation in Buildings


Book Description

The book explains sound insulation in buildings at a level suitable for both graduate students and expert consultants. Theoretical models are set out for sound transmission in buildings, with an emphasis on thick and heavy constructions. Thus, the description is not restrained by the common assumption of bending waves which is characteristic of thin plates, only. A general description is provided, with the modal density in the structures as a key parameter. At low frequencies statistical energy analysis is replaced by modal energy analysis. Sound transmission through windows and facades is represented by a model that allows any angle on incidence, including the special case of grazing incidence. One chapter is devoted to the subjective evaluation of sound insulation, particularly noise from neighbours, and how this can be applied in a sound classification scheme for dwellings. Measurement methods in building acoustics are presented with emphasis on modern methods using MLS signals or sine sweeps. The analysis and estimation of measurement uncertainty is discussed in detail. In a final chapter examples of experimental buildings with high sound insulation are explained.




Acoustics and Noise Control


Book Description

Acoustics and Noise Control provides a detailed and comprehensive introduction to the principles and practice of acoustics and noise control. Since the last edition was published in 1996 there have been many changes and additions to standards, laws and regulations, codes of practice relating to noise, and in noise measurement techniques and noise control technology so this new edition has been fully revised and updated throughout. The book assumes no previous knowledge of the subject and requires only a basic knowledge of mathematics and physics. There are worked examples in the text to aid understanding and a range of experiments help students use complicated apparatus. Thoroughly revised to cover the latest changes in standards, codes of practice and legislation, this new edition covers much of the Institute of Acoustics Diploma syllabus and has an increased emphasis on the legal issues relating to noise control.




Numerical Simulations in Room Acoustics Using Direct Coupling Techniques and Finite Elements


Book Description

This thesis presents a coupling approach for time-harmonic problems in linear room acoustics. Therein the closed acoustic system is subdivided into air, sound source and different boundary components. The sound field of each air component is approximated with the help of modal basis functions and continuous transitions between single components are enabled by enforcing coupling conditions. Coupling to realistic boundary conditions is realized by wavenumber- and frequency-dependent impedance functions for plate-like sound absorbers. Afterwards the solution is computed by minimizing the energy based on Hamilton's Principle. For computing the basis functions and the energies of the components the Spectral Finite Element Method and the adapted Patch Recovery Method are applied. Finally numerical benchmark-simulations show the applications of this coupling approach.