Incidental acoustic retroreflection from building façades: Three instances in Berkeley, Sydney and Hong Kong

Cabrera, Densil; Yadav, Manuj; Holmes, Jonothan; Fong, Osborn; Caldwell, Hugo

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106733

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A simple method to predict the retroreflected sound energy level returned to the source was presented by Cabrera et al [8]. This method treats each visible concave trihedral corner as an equivalent mirror facing the source and uses first-order image-source calculation accounting for diffraction loss in the frequency domain.…”

Section: Prediction Of Retroreflected Energy From Trihedral Cornersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present paper investigated another step-related acoustic phenomenon in distinctive and sometimes monumental and ancient architecture: acoustic retroreflection in some Indian stepwells. This phenomenon arises in cases where there are many simultaneously visible concave trihedral right-angle corners and has been previously studied in building façades [6][7][8]. It is characterised by a multitude of reflections returning to the source…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While pre-existing cases of acoustic retroreflection in architecture have been identified in building façades [6][7][8], finding pre-existing extensive cases in room acoustics is more challenging. Indoors, candidates for incidental retroreflection could include rooms with simple coffered ceilings (where surfaces are planar and perpendicular) [16].…”

Section: Introduction To Acoustic Retroreflection In Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In northern and western parts of India, where the structures studied in this paper are located, they can be referred to using several terms, which may depend on their history, purpose, colloquial usage, use in the literature, etc. Some common terms include baori/baoli ( While pre-existing cases of acoustic retroreflection in architecture have been identified in building façades [6][7][8], finding pre-existing extensive cases in room acoustics is more challenging. Indoors, candidates for incidental retroreflection could include rooms with simple coffered ceilings (where surfaces are planar and perpendicular) [16].…”

Section: Introduction To Indian Stepped Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 indicates that there is typically about one step per square metre of top area (ranging from 0.87 at Jaipura Kund to 1.42 at Idar Stepped Pond). This ratio is mostly governed by the horizontal area of individual steps and platforms and the area of the pool in Sanskrit and Hindi), barav ( While pre-existing cases of acoustic retroreflection in architecture have been identified in building façades [6][7][8], finding pre-existing extensive cases in room acoustics is more challenging. Indoors, candidates for incidental retroreflection could include rooms with simple coffered ceilings (where surfaces are planar and perpendicular) [16].…”

Section: Introduction To Indian Stepped Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Sound Reflections in Indian Stepwells: Modelling Acoustically Retroreflective Architecture

Cabrera

Holmes

et al. 2022

Acoustics

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Retroreflection is rarely used as a surface treatment in architectural acoustics but is found incidentally with building surfaces that have many simultaneously visible concave right-angle trihedral corners. Such surfaces concentrate reflected sound onto the sound source, mostly at high frequencies. This study investigated the potential for some Indian stepwells (stepped ponds, known as a kund or baori/baoli in Hindi) to provide exceptionally acoustically retroreflective semi-enclosed environments because of the unusually large number of corners formed by the steps. Two cases—Panna Meena ka Kund and Lahan Vav—were investigated using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) acoustic simulation. The results are consistent with retroreflection, showing reflected energy concentrating on the source position mostly in the high-frequency bands (4 kHz and 2 kHz octave bands). However, the larger stepped pond has substantially less retroreflection, even though it has many more corners, because of the greater diffraction loss over the longer distances. Retroreflection is still evident (but reduced) with non-right-angle trihedral corners (80–100°). The overall results are sufficiently strong to indicate that acoustic retroreflection should be audible to an attuned visitor in benign environmental conditions, at least at moderately sized stepped ponds that are in good geometric condition.

show abstract

Section: Prediction Of Retroreflected Energy From Trihedral Cornersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction To Acoustic Retroreflection In Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction To Indian Stepped Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction To Indian Stepped Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Sound Reflections in Indian Stepwells: Modelling Acoustically Retroreflective Architecture

Cabrera

Holmes

et al. 2022

Acoustics

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Seeking the Nexus Between Building Acoustics and Urban Form: A Systematic Review

Yildirim

Arefi

2023

Curr Pollution Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose of Review Noise is penetrating urban life pervasively and is imperative for demonstrating the factors behind it regarding built environment, aka buildings and urban form. So, this review aims to provide a better understanding of the association between building acoustics and urban form characteristics. Recent Findings There is a growing attention for building acoustics, including materials and simulation aspects with various increasing urban form attributes, i.e., the built and natural environment and transportation. Summary Building acoustics is a key aspect of urban life and falls within the interface of various urban form characteristics. While these two main attributes are not sufficiently addressed, they may adversely affect individuals; thus, all the more reason to explore this nexus. This study has evaluated 67 peer-reviewed journal articles after systematically reviewing the triple resources in assessing building acoustics and urban form between 2016 and 2022. This review separates the indoor and outdoor categories within the simulation, theory, building materials, facade, and the built environment sub-categories. The study does not only review the overall scope of present studies but also direct future directions of their associations.

show abstract

A polytrihedral dome for acoustic retroreflection, and its application to creative-arts practice-led research

Rapp

Cabrera

2022

Applied Acoustics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Incidental acoustic retroreflection from building façades: Three instances in Berkeley, Sydney and Hong Kong

Cited by 11 publications

References 20 publications

Sound Reflections in Indian Stepwells: Modelling Acoustically Retroreflective Architecture

Sound Reflections in Indian Stepwells: Modelling Acoustically Retroreflective Architecture

Seeking the Nexus Between Building Acoustics and Urban Form: A Systematic Review

A polytrihedral dome for acoustic retroreflection, and its application to creative-arts practice-led research

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About