The sound transmission between adjacent rooms has been modeled using a finite-element method. Predicted sound-level difference gave good agreement with experimental data using a full-scale and a quarter-scale model. Results show that the sound insulation characteristics of a party wall at low frequencies strongly depend on the modal characteristics of the sound field of both rooms and of the partition. The effect of three edge conditions of the separating wall on the sound-level difference at low frequencies was examined: simply supported, clamped, and a combination of clamped and simply supported. It is demonstrated that a clamped partition provides greater sound-level difference at low frequencies than a simply supported. It also is confirmed that the sound-pressure level difference is lower in equal room than in unequal room configurations.
This paper describes work on the relationship between laboratory measurements of the sound insulation of walls and floors, and the sound level difference between dwellings at frequencies below 200 Hz. The aim of the work was to describe the sound transmission between sound fields in small rooms and at low frequencies in terms of the modal characteristics of the spaces and of the intervening walls/floors. An experimentally validated finite element method (FEM) model was developed and a parametric survey conducted on the effects on sound level difference of construction, room/wall dimension and the absorption of surfaces and contents. The existing international standard ISO 140 gives a diffuse field correction to the sound reduction index, to give the level difference. This paper proposes a supplementary correction, which is a function of the low frequency characteristics of the separated rooms and of the walls/floors. In addition a statistical estimate is given of level difference for the range of likely conditions between dwellings for both heavyweight masonry walls and lightweight cavity walls.
The sound level difference of party walls at low frequencies [25–200 Hz] has been shown to be strongly dependent on the modal characteristics of the sound fields of the separated rooms. The modal characteristics can be modelled by numerical methods and a Finite Element Method has been selected to model sound transmission between adjacent rooms separated by a party wall. The numerical eigenfrequencies were compared with the theoretical eigenfrequencies to select a mesh model for which the eigenfrequencies are processed within an acceptable error range. As a prelude to the study of sound transmission between dwellings, the simulation of one single room, modelled with the selected mesh model, was validated by predicting the frequency response and comparing values with measured frequency response of a 1:4 scale room model. Results show promising agreement and establish the reliability of the work.
Airborne and structure-borne sound transmission are the dominant noise paths in terraced, semi-detached houses and in multi-storey buildings, often causing annoyance when heard. They usually are controlled by applying building regulations before, during and after the construction of the dwellings. As part of a comparative study of the control and promotion of quality in housing in Europe, the acoustic quality in dwellings have been investigated for France, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom. The study highlights many differences in regulations, criteria and methods of measurement. The conclusion drawn from this comparison is that there is no uniformity in the regulations for the acoustic quality of dwellings in Europe and much work is needed to establish uniformity.
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