ACOUSTICS

What is acoustics ?
Acoustics

is the science of sound,

which deals with origin , propogation
and auditory sensation of sound, and
also with design and construction of
different building units to set optimum
conditions for producing and listening
speech,music,etc.
The knowledge of this science is
important for proper functional design
of theatres,cinema
halls,auditoriums,conference halls etc.

 Sound

behaves as follows in an
enclosure: Reflection: when a sound wave is
incident on a surface at normal it is
reflected back such that angle of
incidence is equal to angle of
reflection.
Absorption: when a sound wave
strikes a surface,a part of its energy is
absorbed and is not reflected back.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND FACTORS IN

ACOUSTICAL DESIGN.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Site selection and planning.

Dimensions.
Shape.
Seats and seating arrangement.
Treatment of interior surfaces.
Reverberation and sound absorption.

 Site

selection and planning: A noise survey

should be made, site selected should be in
quietest surrounding
Dimension: It should be decided according to
the number of audience to be seated and in
proportion of the intensity of sound to be
generated, slight increase in height towards
the centre of hall may be provided, average
height may vary from 6m to 7.5 m in small
and big halls respectively.
Suitable volumes for different types of
halls:

 Public

lecture halls: 3.5 4.5 cubic

metre/person
Cinemas or theatres: 4.0 5.0 cubic
metre/person
Musical halls or concert halls: 4.0 5.5
cubic metre/person
Shape:

It is a governing factor in
acoustical defects, shape of hall should
be geometrically arranged for better
audibility. The farthest seat from the

 Seats

and seating arrangement:

Seats should be arranged in concentric
arcs.
First row distance from stage should be
about 3.6 m for drama and 4.5 m for
cinema purposes.
Upholstered chairs/seats should be
provided.
Successive rows of seats have to be
raised over preceding ones by 8cm
12cm and angle of elevation should be

Treatment of interior
surfaces
Ceilings

and wall should provide

favourable reflection to reinforce the
sound.
Rear wall of an auditorium should be
either flat or convex.

REQUIREMENT OF GOOD ACOUSTIC

MATERIAL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Should be efficient over a wide range of

frequencies
Should be relatively cheap and easily
available.
Should give pleasant appearance after fixing.
Should be self supporting and should afford
easy fixing.
It should be fire resistant.
Should have sufficient structural strength.
Should be durable and should not be liable to
attack by insects, termites etc.

Acoustical Defects
Due

to reflected sound:
Echoes
Reverberation
Common

defects:
Sound foci
Dead spots
Insufficient loudness

Echoes
An

echo is produced when the reflected

sound wave reaches the ear just when
original sound from the same source has
already heard. Thus there is a repetition
of sound. It also happens when reflecting
surfaces are situated at a distance
greater than 17 m and when shape of
room is curved.
This defect can be removed by selecting
proper shape of hall and by providing
rough and porous surface

Reverberation
The persistence of sound in an enclosed
space even
after the source of sound has stopped is
called reverberation. It is due to multiple
reflection.
Reverberation time is the time taken by
sound waves
to reflect back and forth between
reflective surfaces
Installing appropriate absorbent material

Optimum reverberation
time
TYPE OF BUILDING

OPTIMUM REVERBERATION
TIME (sec)

Cinema theaters

1.3

Churches

1.8 to 3

Law courts, committee rooms

1 to 1.5

Large halls

2 to 3

Music concert hall

1.6 to 2

Parliament house, assembly hall

1 to 1.5

Public lecture hall

1.5 to 2

SOUND FOCI
reflecting concave surface cause
concentration of reflected sound wave at
certain spot, creating a sound of large
intensity. These spots are called sound
foci.
These defects can be removed bya) Geometrical designed shapes of interior
faces , including ceilings
b) Providing highly absorbent materials on
focusing areas.

DEAD SPOTS
This defect is an outcome of formation of
sound foci
because of high concentration of reflected
sound
wave at sound foci, there is a deficiency of
reflected
sound at some other point.
This defect can be removed by installation
of suitable
diffuser so that there is even distribution
of sound in

INSUFFICIENT LOUDNESS: This defect is

caused due to lack of sound reflecting flat
surface near the sound source. It can be
treated by providing hard reflective surface
near source and by adjusting absorption of
hall
EXTERNAL NOISE: external noise from vehicles,
traffic engine, factories, cooling plants etc.
This defect can be removed by proper planning
with respect to its surrounding.

Absorbants
Special

1.
2.
3.
4.

materials used on boundary

surfaces to increase absorption are
known as absorbants.
Porous materials
Resonant panels
Cavity resonators
Composite types

 Porous

material: Absorption in porous

materials is mainly due to sound waves
causing to and fro movement of the air
contained in the material. They are
especially useful in high frequencies.
Their efficiency is dependent on porosity,
the resistance to air flow and thickness.
For ex:- Wood wool, curtains, glass silk
etc.

 Resonant

panels: These absorb the

sound waves of lower frequencies (50200 cycles) by vibrating.Depth of air
space is left behind it.

 Cavity

resonator: it is a container with

a small opening,and it functions by
resonance of air in it. It can be used for
any frequency.

 Composite

absorbers: It combines
function of all of the three materials. It
consists of a perforated panel fixed over
an air space containing porous
absorbent. The perforations should form
atleast 10% of total area to allow porous
materials to absorb sound at higher
frequencies.Ex: Acoustic
plaster(granulated insulation material
with cement),wood particle
board,compressed wood wool, rock wool