Effects of Periodic Materials on Distance Attenuation in Wall–Slab Structures: An Experiment
Jongwoo Cho,
Kwonsik Song,
Nahyun Kwon
et al.
Abstract:This research examines the application of periodic materials in wall–slab structures to mitigate impact noise and vibration propagation, a prevalent issue in multifamily housing. Traditional methods, such as floating floors, have proven insufficient in addressing low-frequency impact noises and in facilitating the identification of noise origins, leading to increased resident annoyance. Periodic materials, known for their effectiveness in controlling plane waves in civil engineering, were applied to the interm… Show more
This study investigated impact source ambiguity in box-frame multifamily buildings, prevalent in densely populated areas, by examining the transmission of heavy-impact noise and its relationship with junction attenuations across five floors. Contrary to the decline in noise levels with increased distance from the impact source, our findings uncover an intriguing deviation in the behaviour of vibration response levels. Surprisingly, vibrations are often intensified, rather than diminished, with distance. Notably, upon examining each room, instances where non-structural or thin concrete walls exhibited the highest vibration responses were frequently observed. Such instances were particularly prevalent in rooms not directly adjacent to the impact source. This trend markedly impedes residents’ ability to pinpoint the origin location of impact noises. This study reveals an unexpected weakening and reversal of distance attenuation in vibration, linked to the increasing number of valid flanking paths as the junction distance grows. The findings suggest that increasing slab thickness for noise insulation may unintentionally complicate source identification due to diminished junction attenuation in thicker horizontal components compared to vertical ones. To enhance acoustic comfort in such housing, this study recommends minimizing valid flanking paths through improved junction design, addressing an often-overlooked issue of source ambiguity of floor noises.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.