Building Physics 1: Fundamental Principles

Part 2 Acoustics
Model solutions to self-study questions

Q1
From the speed of sound in air and the wavelength, we find the frequency of the sound wave as
follows

𝑐 344 𝑚/𝑠 1
𝑓= = = 500 = 500 𝐻𝑧
𝜆 0.688 𝑚 𝑠

The same sound wave travels through the solid material at the same frequency
The speed of sound then becomes

1 𝑚
𝑐 = 𝜆𝑓 = 7.6𝑚 × 500 = 3800
𝑠 𝑠

Q2
The sound levels are added based on the sound power or sound intensity. We have

𝑝12
𝑆𝑃𝐿1 = 62𝑑𝐵 = 10 log ( )
(2 × 10−5 )2
𝑝22
𝑆𝑃𝐿2 = 64𝑑𝐵 = 10 log ( )
(2 × 10−5 )2
𝑝32
𝑆𝑃𝐿3 = 68𝑑𝐵 = 10 log ( )
(2 × 10−5 )2

The combined SPL can be found through

𝑝12 + 𝑝22 + 𝑝32

𝑆𝑃𝐿 = 10 log ( )
(2 × 10−5 )2

From the equations above, we have

62 64 68
𝑝12 + 𝑝22 + 𝑝32 = (2 × 10−5 )2 × (1010 + 1010 + 1010 )

Hence, the combined SPL is

𝑝12 + 𝑝22 + 𝑝32

𝑆𝑃𝐿 = 10 log ( ) = 70.2 𝑑𝐵
(2 × 10−5 )2

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Q3
This is similar to Q2. But here we know the combined SPL and the SPL for one fan.

𝑝12 + 𝑝22
𝑆𝑃𝐿 = 10 log ( ) = 74𝑑𝐵
(2 × 10−5 )2
𝑝12
𝑆𝑃𝐿1 = 72𝑑𝐵 = 10 log ( )
(2 × 10−5 )2
From above, we have

𝑝12 + 𝑝22 = 107.4 × (2 × 10−5 )2

𝑝12 = 107.2 × (2 × 10−5 )2

So
𝑝22 = (107.4 − 107.2 ) × (2 × 10−5 )2

and
𝑝22
𝑆𝑃𝐿2 = 10 log ( ) = 69.7𝑑𝐵
(2 × 10−5 )2

Q4
For a hemispherical propagation, we have

𝐿𝑃 = 𝐿𝑊 − 20 log 𝑟 − 8
where
𝑝2 𝑊
𝐿𝑃 = 𝑆𝑃𝐿 = 10 log ((2×10−5 )2 ) and 𝐿𝑊 = 𝑆𝑊𝐿 = 10 log 10−12

Using the equation above, we calculate the sound power level

𝐿𝑊 = 𝐿𝑃 + 20 log 𝑟 + 8 = 60 + 20 log(20) + 8 = 94.0𝑑𝐵

So the acoustic power of the source can be found as follows

𝑊
10 log = 94.0𝑑𝐵
10−12
94.0
𝑊 = 10 10 −12 = 2.51 × 10−3 𝑊

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Q5
The average absorption coefficient of a room can be determined by

𝐴 𝑆1 𝛼1 + 𝑆2 𝛼2 + ⋯ + 𝑆𝑛 𝛼𝑛
𝛼̅ = =
∑ 𝑆𝑖 ∑ 𝑆𝑖
where 𝐴 is the total absorption of the room.
The total absorption of the room, when the room is either empty or full, can be found as shown in the
table below.

Empty Full
Absorption coeff. Area, m2 𝑆𝛼 Area, m2 𝑆𝛼
Windows 0.1 30 3 30 3
Walls 0.02 310 6.2 310 6.2
Ceiling 0.1 280 28 280 28
Floor 0.06 280 16.8 = 140 8.4 =
280*0.06 140*0.06
Occupant 0.43 each 172 =
400*0.43
∑ 𝑆𝑖 =900 A = 54 ∑ 𝑆𝑖 =760 A = 217.6

The average absorption coefficient of the room, when empty, is

𝐴 54
𝛼̅ = = = 0.060
∑ 𝑆𝑖 900
And when the room is full, the average absorption coefficient becomes
𝐴 217.6
𝛼̅ = = = 0.286
∑ 𝑆𝑖 760
Note. the model answers given with the questions at the end of the handout are actually the total
absorption, not the average absorption coefficient intended.

The reverberation time can be found using the Sabine’s formula as follows

0.161𝑉
𝑅𝑇 =
𝐴
The volume of the hall can be found as 𝑉 = 20 × 14 × 5 = 1400𝑚3. When the room is empty, the
reverberation time is
0.161 × 1400
𝑅𝑇 = = 4.17𝑠
54
and when the room is full, the reverberation time becomes
0.161 × 1400
𝑅𝑇 = = 1.04𝑠
217.6
Q6
Using Norris-Eyring formula to calculate the reverberation time, when the room is empty, we have
0.161𝑉 0.161 × 1400
𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑣 = − =− = 4.05𝑠
𝑆 ln(1 − 𝛼̅) 900 ln(1 − 0.060)
When the room is full, the reverberation time becomes
0.161𝑉 0.161 × 1400
𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑣 = − =− = 0.880𝑠
𝑆 ln(1 − 𝛼̅) 760 ln(1 − 0.286)

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Q7
The noise from the fan contributes to the SPL at any point in the room in two ways, the reverberation
sound and the direct sound.
The room constant can be found using the following equation (Eq. 3.6, note p.27) as

𝑆𝛼̅
𝑅𝑐 =
(1 − 𝛼̅)
The total surface area of the room is (14 × 12 + 12 × 3 + 14 × 3) × 2 = 492 𝑚2. So the room
constant is

492 × 0.31
𝑅𝑐 = = 221.04
(1 − 0.31)

The sound pressure level (SPL) at the point of interest can be found (Eq. 3.8, note p.28)

𝑄𝜃 4
𝐿𝑃 = 𝐿𝑊 + 10 log ( + )
4𝜋𝑟 2 𝑅𝑐
2 4
= 65 + 10 log ( 2
+ ) = 48.89 𝑑𝐵
4𝜋 × 5 221.04

Q8
Assume the mass law of sound insulation applies. The sound reduction index (SRI) can be found using
the following equation

𝑆𝑅𝐼 = [20 log(𝑀𝑓)] − 43

= [20 log(250 × 500)] − 43 = 58.9𝑑𝐵

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Q9
Following Q8, when a window and a door are installed in the wall, the sound reduction index (SRI) of
the wall can be found in the following process.
The sound reduction index is related to the transmission coefficient indicated by the equation below.

1
𝑆𝑅𝐼 = 10 log ( )
𝜏
For the wall, the window (𝐴2 = 4𝑚2) and the door (𝐴3 = 2𝑚2), we find their transmission
coefficients as follows

𝑆𝑅𝐼𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 58.9
𝜏1 = 𝜏𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 10− 10 = 10− 10

𝑆𝑅𝐼𝑤𝑖𝑛 24
𝜏2 = 𝜏𝑤𝑖𝑛 = 10− 10 = 10−10

𝑆𝑅𝐼𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 38
𝜏3 = 𝜏𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 = 10− 10 = 10−10

𝜏𝑎𝑣 𝐴 = 𝜏1 𝐴1 + 𝜏2 𝐴2 + 𝜏3 𝐴3

The surface area of the wall, after adding a window and a door, is 14𝑚2 = (20 − 4 − 2).

So the overall transmission coefficient becomes

58.9 24 38
𝜏1 𝐴1 + 𝜏2 𝐴2 + 𝜏3 𝐴3 10− 10 × 14 + 10−10 × 4 + 10−10 × 2
𝜏𝑎𝑣 = =
𝐴 20

The overall sound reduction index (SRI) of the partition wall is found as

1 20
𝑆𝑅𝐼 = 10 log ( ) = 10 log ( 58.9 24 38 ) = 30.9𝑑𝐵
𝜏𝑎𝑣 − − −
10 10 × 14 + 10 10 × 4 + 10 10 ×2

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Q10
We consider the sound transmission between spaces through partition.
The average absorption coefficient is calculated as shown in the table below and given as follows

𝐴 𝑆1 𝛼1 + 𝑆2 𝛼2 + ⋯ + 𝑆𝑛 𝛼𝑛 87.8
𝛼̅ = = = = 0.27
∑ 𝑆𝑖 ∑ 𝑆𝑖 324

The noise level is required to conform to NC 40 at 500 Hz. The maximum SPL allowed in the office is 45
dB (note p.18).

Area, m2 Absorption coeff 𝑆𝛼

Windows 20 0.04 0.8
Walls 100 0.06 6
Ceiling 96 0.6 57.6
Floor 96 0.1 9.6
Desks 12 0.05 0.6
Occupants 1.10 each 13.2
∑ 𝑆 = 324 m2 ∑ 𝑆𝛼 = 87.8

The

𝑆𝑃 (1 − 𝛼̅)
𝐿𝑝1 − 𝐿𝑝2 = 𝑆𝑅𝐼 − 10 log ( )
𝑆𝛼̅
That is
24 × (1 − 0.27)
86 − 45 = 𝑆𝑅𝐼 − 10 log ( )
324 × 0.27

From above, we calculate the sound reduction index of the partition wall as

24 × (1 − 0.27)
𝑆𝑅𝐼 = 41 + 10 log ( ) = 34.0 𝑑𝐵
324 × 0.27

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