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ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS
ACOUSTICS: branch of physics concerned with sound
deals with the production, control, transmission,
reception, and effects of sound
3 parts (elements):
1. Sound Source ( e.g. human speech, HVAC
equipment)
2. Transmission Path (e.g. air, earth, building
materials)
3. Receiver (e.g. humans, animals, sensitive medical
equipment)
 Definitions of SOUND
 physical wave in an elastic medium, usually air
 the sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing
by mechanical radiant energy transmitted as
longitudinal pressure waves through the air or
other medium
 a vibration in an elastic medium such as air,
water, most building materials, and the earth
 physically, sound is a rapid fluctuation of air
pressure
 ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS
 technology of designing spaces, structures and
mechanical systems to meet hearing needs
 effect of building design on the control of sound in
buildings
3 Aspects of Acoustical Design in Buildings
1. Planning to keep noise sources as far as possible
from quiet area
2. Internal acoustics of rooms
3. Structural precautions to reduce noise penetrations
 Types of Sound
Wanted Sound (speech, music) – heard properly;
considered desirable
Unwanted Sound (noise) – annoyance; not desired or
objectionable
Characteristics of Sound
 Audible
 Inaudible
 TERMINOLOGIES
Generation - sound is generated when an object
vibrates, causing the adjacent air to move, resulting
in a series of pressure waves radiating out from the
moving object
Wave – a disturbance or oscillation that transfers energy
progressively from point to point in a medium or
space without advance by the points themselves, as
in the transmission of sound or light
Sound Wave – a longitudinal pressure wave in air or an
elastic medium esp. one producing an audible
sensation
 TERMINOLOGIES
Frequency
 the no. of times the cycle of compression and rarefaction of
air occurs in a given unit of time (e.g. 1000 cycles in the
period of 1 second = 1000 cps = 1000 Hertz)
 the no. of cycles per unit time of a wave or oscillation
 the no. of complete cycles per second (frequency of
vibration)
 the rate of oscillation of molecules by sound (frequency of
vibration) measured in cycles per second (Hertz)
 Pitch – frequency of sound vibration; the predominant
frequency of a sound as perceived by the human ear
 Vibration – the back and forth motion of a complete cycle
 Cycle – full circuit by a displaced particle
 Period – the time required for one complete cycle
 TERMINOLOGIES

Frequency
 20 – 20,000 Hz – approx. audio frequency range of human
hearing;
 600 – 40,000 Hz – critical frequency for speech
communication
 Tone – composed of a fundamental frequency with multiples
of the fundamental, called Harmonics
 Pure Tone – sound composed only of 1 frequency
 Musical sounds are combination of many pure tones
 Frequency bands – used to express division of sounds into
sections (Octave bands are the most common)
 9 Octave Bands – 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000,
4000, 8000 Hz
 TERMINOLOGIES
Velocity
varies according to the medium of transmission; approx. 1100 fps in
air at normal temperature and pressure
Wavelength
 Distance between similar points on successive waves; the distance
the sound travels in one cycle
 Relationship between wavelength, frequency, and velocity:
 Λ = c/f
Λ = wavelength, ft.2
c = velocity of sound, fps
f = frequency of sound, Hz (cps)
 Low frequency sounds: characterized by long wavelengths
 High frequency sounds: characterized by short wavelengths
 Sounds with wavelengths ranging from ½” – 50’ can be heard by
humans, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz
 TERMINOLOGIES

Magnitude
 Sound power (watts) – amount of energy produced by a
source
 Intensity – describes the energy level; unit is watts/cm2
 Loudness (what is perceived) – related to the Intensity Level
(IL) or Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
 The Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is equivalent to the Sound
Intensity Level (IL)
 Intensity Level is expressed in decibels
 Decibel – dimensionless unit used to express the ratio of
two numerical values of a logarithmic scale
 ROOM ACOUSTICS
Sound Indoors – Acoustics of Room
Sound Absorption - some absorb low frequency energy; some
absorb high frequency energy
Noise Reduction by Absorption
Noise levels in a room are highest for a given source if the
room’s surfaces are primarily sound reflecting; lowest if there
are large areas of sound absorbing materials (e.g. sound
absorbing ceilings
Reflections – sound foci/diffused
Reverberation – prolongation of sound; persistence