Lateral impact noise I: Theory and application

Abstract

Impact noise insulation has traditionally been thought of mostly in terms of vertical adjacencies. However, impact noise is transmitted in all directions though a building, and lateral and diagonally adjacent impact noise transmission can be significant. Lateral and diagonal impact transmission is a one-junction structural flanking path and is, therefore, amenable to statistical energy analysis-based calculation methods such as ISO 12354. In this paper, we review the relevant results from structural flanking path calculations and show how this provides a framework for understanding major features of lateral impact noise transmission such as the frequency dependence and effect of structure type. In turn, measurement of lateral impact noise provides a method of estimating the vibration reduction across junctions. These findings are illustrated with examples from field testing.