This project includes an overview of different processing methods phonograms. It focuses primarily on time - frequency analysis carried out using Fast Fourier Transform (STFT). The main essence is to evaluate the time - frequency analysis of recorded motor vehicle, driving at different options, together with an analysis of driver activity in these variants. Based on the results of the analysis deals with the creation of synthetic audio signals of motor vehicle records. Further addresses the creation of the program for acoustic simulation engine is running smoothly when driving a car. Processing recorded signals and their evaluation is transferred using Matlab 7.7.0 ( R2008 )

Acoustic models are useful tools to increase understanding of cochlear implant perception. Two particular issues in modelling cochlear implant perception were considered in the present study, which aimed at improving acoustic models. The first included an electricallayer in the model, while the second manipulated synthesis signal parameters. Two parts of the study explored the effects of current decay, compression function and simultaneous stimulation, by including the electrical layer. The SPREAD model, which incorporated this layer, yielded the asymptote in speech intelligibility at seven channels observed in CI listeners. It was shown that the intensity of border channels was deemphasized in relation to more central channels. This was caused by the one-sided effects of current spread from neighbouring channels for the border channels, as opposed to the two-sided effects for the more central channels. It was theorised that more compressive mapping functions would affect spectral cues and consequently speech intelligibility, but speech intelligibility experiments did not confirm this theory. A simultaneous analogue stimulation (SAS) model, which modelled simultaneous stimulation, yielded intelligibility results that were lower than those of the SPREAD model at 16 channels. The SAS model also appeared to introduce more temporal distortion than the SPREAD model. A third part of the study endeavoured to improve correspondence of acoustic model results with cochlear implant listener results by using nine different synthesis signals. The best synthesis signal was noise-band based. The widths of these increased linearly from 0.4 mm at the apical to 8 mm at the basal end. Good correspondence between speech recognition outcomes using this synthesis signal with those of CI listeners was found. AFRIKAANS : Akoesties modelle word algemeen gebruik om die persepsie van inplantingsgebruikers beter te verstaan. Twee benaderings tot die modellering van kogleêre inplantingsgebruikerpersepsies is voorgestel om akoestiese modelle te verbeter. In die eerste benadering is die generiese model verbeter deur die byvoeging van 'n elektriese laag en in die tweede benadering is sinteseseinparameters gemanipuleer om die ooreenkoms met inplantingsgebruikersuitkomste te verbeter. Twee dele van die studie het die effek van stroomverspreiding, samedrukkings-funksie en gelyktydige stimulasie ondersoek deur die insluiting van die elektriese laag. Die SPREAD-model het die asimptoot in spraakherkenning by sewe kanale getoon. Die intensiteit van grenskanale is onderbeklemtoon in verhouding met meer sentrale kanale. Dit is veroorsaak deur die eensydige effekte van stroomverspreiding vir die grenskanale, teenoor die tweesydige effekte wat meer sentrale kanale tipies beïnvloed. Die model het gesuggereer dat meer samedrukkende funksies spektrale inligting sou affekteer, maar spraakherkenningsdata het nie hierdie teorie bevestig nie. Die gelyktydige- analoogstimulasiemodel, wat gelyktydige stimulasie gemodelleer het, het soortgelyke tendense getoon, maar met meer temporale effekte as die SPREAD-model. Die gelyktydige- analoogstimulasiemodel-model se resultate was ook swakker by 16 kanale as die SPREAD-modelresultate. Die derde deel van die studie het gepoog om beter ooreenkoms tussen modeluitkomste en inplantingsgebruikeruitkomste te verkry deur nege verskillende sinteseseine te gebruik. Die beste sintesesein was die ruisband met veranderende wydte; hierdie wydte het verbreed vanaf 0.4 mm by die apeks tot by 8 mm by die basis. 'n Goeie ooreenkoms is verkry tussen modeluitkomste en inplantingsgebruikeruitkomste deur hierdie sintesesein te gebruik. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fundamental frequency (Fo) on stop consonant voice onset time (VOT). VOT was measured from the recordings of 56 young men reading phrases containing all 6 English voiced and voiceless stops in word-initial position across high-, medium-, and low-Fo levels. Separate analyses of variance for the voiced and voiceless stops revealed no significant main effect for Fo for the voiced stops but a significant Fo effect for the voiceless stops. Across the voiceless stops, productions at high Fos displayed significantly shorter VOTs than productions at low or mid F os. The findings indicated that researchers must take into account the Fo level at which voiceless stop VOT is measured.

Both acoustic and palatographic measures have proven to be useful in speech science research. However, it is not known how closely or consistently these two measures are associated with each other. Therefore, this study investigated the association between changes in tongue-to-palate contact patterns and simultaneous changes in acoustic spectral moments for the fricative /s/. Twenty adults were fitted with pseudopalates and repeated VCV nonsense syllables consisting of an initial schwa followed by the target consonant /s/ and ending with one of three corner vowels (/i, ɑ, u/). EPG (electropalatography) data were quantified using three custom numerical indices (s-narrow, s-wide, and asymmetry) derived from specified zones on the pseudopalate which loosely reflected dimensional differences in the fricative groove. These indices produced general details about changes in tongue contact over time, but index values were not unique to specific contact patterns. The EPG numerical index values were then compared with differences in spectral moments (spectral mean and variance) from the time-aligned acoustic signal. On the whole, all combinations of spectral mean and variance and EPG indices resulted in some weak but significant correlations across all vowel contexts and participant groupings. The majority of these correlations were negative, meaning that as EPG index values increased, spectral mean and variance decreased. Some of the strongest of these correlations were present between s-narrow and spectral mean and variance. Therefore, in order to give a clearer picture of the link between lingual physiology and spectral moments, these variables were correlated for each individual speaker. Stronger significant correlations between s-narrow and both spectral mean and variance were identified in some participants. The majority of these correlations were also negative, suggesting that as the s-narrow index increased, the spectral mean and the variance decreased. A few participants' results that showed interesting lingua-palatal contact patterns are discussed in more detail. Generalization based on specific correlations from this study must be undertaken with considerable caution due to desynchronization of EPG data and the acoustic signal found in several tokens.

Soundscape ecology is a rising field in recent years as the effects of anthropogenic sound pollution are widely discussed. Nowadays, scientists are trying to find the best way to describe environmental health using quantitative acoustic measurements. In search of the best acoustic index/indices that can be used for real-time and long-term underwater acoustic monitoring, we tested five different acoustic indices for their effectiveness and suitability for distinguishing and differentiating various types of sounds. One dataset with anthropogenic noises (boat, ship, and diver noises), natural ambient sounds (wind, water turbulence, and reef background noises), and biotic sounds (damselfish Dascyllus reticulatus and snapping shrimps sounds) was analyzed using Raven Pro and R. Our results suggest that acoustic richness (AR) and acoustic complex index (ACI) are capable of separating sound types with the consistency of subjective impression. We also find a strong positive linear correlation between sound exposure level (SEL) and average power spectral density (PSD). The AR exhibits a polynomial relationship with the increase of SEL. Acoustic entropy (H) does not have a significant difference between the three types of sounds. These results agree with the previous studies that AR can be used for differentiating random noises and pure tones, and ACI is capable of quantifying sound complexity. / 2024-09-30T00:00:00Z

No / Hemp concrete is an attractive alternative to traditional materials used in building construction. It has a very low environmental impact, and it is characterized by high thermal insulation. Hemp aggregate particles are parallelepiped in shape and can be organized in a plurality of ways to create a considerable proportion of open pores with a complex connectivity pattern, the acoustical properties of which have never been examined systematically. Therefore this paper is focused on the fundamental understanding of the relations between the particle shape and size distribution, pore size distribution, and the acoustical properties of the resultant porous material mixture. The sound absorption and the transmission loss of various hemp aggregates is characterized using laboratory experiments and three theoretical models. These models are used to relate the particle size distribution to the pore size distribution. It is shown that the shape of particles and particle size control the pore size distribution and tortuosity in shiv. These properties in turn relate directly to the observed acoustical behavior.

Sensing in harsh environments is always in great need. Although many sensors and sensing systems are reported, such as optical fiber sensors and acoustic sensors, they all have drawbacks. In this dissertation, fused quartz and sapphire acoustic waveguides and sensors are developed for high temperature and heavy gamma radiation. The periodic structure, acoustic fiber Bragg grating (AFBG), is the core sensor structure in this dissertation. To better analyze the propagation of acoustic waves, the acoustic coupled more analysis is proposed. It could solve for the reflection spectrum of the AFBG with at most 2.1% error. For the waveguide, the fused quartz "suspended core" waveguide is designed. It achieved strong acoustic energy confinement so surface perturbations no longer affected the wave propagation. Single crystal sapphire fiber features low acoustic loss, and survivability under high temperature. It is also chosen as an acoustic waveguide. AFBGs are fabricated in both waveguides. The fused quartz suspended core AFBG is shown to sense temperature up to 1000 C and to have stable reading at 700 C for 14 days. The sapphire AFBG as a temperature sensor works up to 1500 C and also provides continuous stable reading at 1100 C for 12 days. Both waveguides with AFBGs are then tested under long-term gamma radiation. Despite some fluctuations from radiation-related causes, the readings of both sensors generally remain stable. Given the experimental observations, the fused quartz AFBG waveguide and the sapphire AFBG waveguide are shown to work well in high temperature and gamma radiations. / Doctor of Philosophy / Sensing in harsh environments, like high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive environment, is always in great need. Efficient and safe operation of instruments like nuclear reactors could be better secured. Although many sensors and sensing systems are reported, such as optical fiber sensors and acoustic sensors, they all have drawbacks so new designs are constantly in need. In this dissertation, silica (a glass commonly acquired by melting sand) and sapphire (used in iphone screens due to its transparency and hardness) acoustic waveguides and sensors are developed. A periodic structure known as acoustic fiber Bragg grating (AFBG) is the core sensor structure in this dissertation. A calculation method is proposed first. Acoustic wave needs a waveguide to propagate somewhere further, and a new waveguide structure is made to keep the acoustic energy within the very center of the waveguide, so any change on the outer surface does not affect the wave inside. Also, sapphire has good acoustic property and is used. The AFBGs are fabricated in both waveguides. These sensing waveguides are shown to work at >1000 C temperature and provide stable reading for more than 10 days. Long term exposure to gamma radiation for weeks or months resulted in stable performances. Therefore, it is concluded that silica and sapphire waveguide sensors are successfully developed for high temperature and nuclear radiation applications.

Acoustic metamaterials have been shown to support acoustic surface waves when excited by a broadband signal in a quiescent environment and these waves could be manipulated by varying the geometry of the structure making up the metamaterial. The study presented here demonstrates the generation of trapped acoustic surface waves when excited by a turbulent flow source. The metamaterial and flow were interfaced using a Kevlar covered single cavity whose Kevlar side faced the flow to ensure no significant disturbance to the flow and the other side was open to a quiescent (stationary) environment housing the metamaterial. Acoustic measurements were performed very close to the surface of the metamaterial in the Anechoic Wall Jet Facility at Virginia Tech using two probe-tip microphones and correlation analysis yielded the structure of the surface waves. Two different metamaterials; slotted array and meander array were tested and characterized by their dispersion relations, temporal correlations, and spatial-temporal structure. The measurements proved the existence of surface waves with propagating speeds of a tenth of the speed of sound, when excited by a turbulent boundary layer flow. These waves were much weaker than the overlying flow exciting them but showcased excellent attenuation properties away from the source of excitation. Measurements along the length of the unit-cell geometry of the metamaterial demonstrated high coherence over a range of frequencies limited by the dimension of the cell. This was a surprising behavior provided the cavity was excited by a fully developed turbulent flow over a flat plate and indicated to an area averaging phenomenon. A wall normal two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (2D-PIV) measurement was performed over the Kevlar covered cavity and a smooth surface to study the effects of the cavity on the flow. The field of view was the same for both cases which made direct flow comparison possible. Flow characteristics such as the boundary layer profiles, Reynolds stress profiles and fluctuating velocity spectrum were studied over the cavity and at downstream locations to quantify the differences in the flows. The boundary layer profiles collapsed in the inner region of the boundary layer but there were small differences in the outer region. The Reynolds stress profiles were also very similar with differences within the uncertainties of processing the images and it reflected similar average behavior of the flow over a smooth wall and a Kevlar covered cavity. The fluctuating velocity spectrum studied over the cavity location showed some differences at low frequencies for all wall normal locations while at higher frequencies the differences were within ±3 dB. These measurements showcased the underlying physics behind the interaction of acoustic metamaterials and turbulent boundary layer flows creating possibilities of using these devices for flow control although further analysis/optimization is needed to fully understand the capabilities of these systems. The demonstration of no significant effect on flow by the Kevlar covered cavity stimulated development of sensors which can average over a region of the wall pressure spectrum. / M.S. / In the field of physics, acoustic metamaterials have gained popularity due to their ability to exhibit certain properties such as sound manipulation which cannot be seen in regular materials. These materials have a key feature which is the periodic arrangement of geometric elements in any dimension. These materials can support a phenomenon termed as acoustic surface waves which are essentially pressure disturbances in the medium which behave differently than some known phenomenon such as sound waves when excited by a broadband pressure signal in a stationary medium. Also, it has been shown that these materials can change the nature of the acoustic surface waves if their geometry is changed. Here a successful attempt has been made to link two different fields in physics: acoustic metamaterials (acoustics) and turbulent flows (fluid dynamics). The study here uses turbulent boundary layer flows to excite these metamaterials to show the existence of acoustic surface waves. This is done by creating an interface between the flow and the metamaterial using a Kevlar covered through cavity which is essentially a through hole connecting to different sides: flow side and the stationary air/quiescent side. This cavity acted as the source of excitation for the metamaterial. The Kevlar covering ensures that the flow does not get disturbed due to the cavity which was also proved in this study using a visualization technique: Particle Image Velocity (PIV). Two microphones were used to study the pressure field very close to two metamaterials; one was referred to as the slotted array comprised of slot cavities arranged in one dimension (along the direction of the flow), while the other was termed as the meander array and it comprised of a meandering channel. The pressure field was well characterized for both the acoustic metamaterials and it was proved that these metamaterials could support acoustic surface waves even when excited by a turbulent flow. The idea here was to fundamentally understand the interaction of acoustic metamaterials and turbulent flows, possibly finding use in applications such as trailing edge noise reduction. The use of these metamaterials in direct applications needs further investigation. A finding from the pressure field study showed that the pressure measured along the length of the Kevlar covered cavity was uniform. The flow visualization study looked at the turbulent flow on a smooth wall and over a Kevlar covered cavity. This was done by injecting tiny particles in air and shooting a laser sheet over these to illuminate the flow. Images were recorded using a high-speed camera to track the movement of these particles. It was found that the flow was unaffected with or without the presence of a Kevlar covered cavity. This result coupled with the pressure field uniformity could have some wide applications in the field of pressure sensing.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Mary Catherine E. Kingery-Page / This project addresses landscape acoustics for a complex site and complex program. The site is a campus owned by two separate yet equally important entities, the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Aspen Country Day School. Each owner has very different program requirements for the Campus. Because of a mountainous setting the Campus is surrounded by natural hazards affecting the development potential of the site. Most importantly, the program requires performance and practice spaces for the music students. These spaces should be acoustically sound. However, acoustics in the outdoors is rarely thought of in the design profession. More often, sound is considered strictly in the sense of noise control. Carefully placing and designing the outdoor spaces for the students will enhance the acoustic quality, environmental sensitivity and unity of the campus as a significant and unique place. To enhance the acoustical experience of the Castle Creek Campus this research addresses what characteristics affect the movement of sound. This research identifies which outdoor environments propagate or hinder sound movement. A comparative sound study first identifies, locates and records characteristics of the campus. Some of these characteristics include the height of tree canopy, amount of enclosure, and surface type, for example. The audio recordings of the characteristics are then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, and ranked accordingly. This method allows for replicable results in other geographical areas. The ranking system results show that the appropriate location for the primary performance space is near calm water with little obstruction on three sides. The location for the practice spaces is generally, most appropriate in heavily wooded areas with dense canopy coverage. The results of the research guide the location and design of the required outdoor performance and practice spaces for the Castle Creek Campus serves as an example for incorporating acoustics into design.

This thesis relates to the feasibility of monitoring dental implants using the transmission of Acoustic Emission (AE) from an intra-oral source to a sensor mounted on the patient’s face. A number of in vitro and in vivo experiments have been carried using different AE sources on teeth and dental implants with the ultimate aim of defining the characteristics of the AE signatures in the time- and frequency-domains that are affected by the implant-bone interface. An initial feasibility study was carried out to assess the transmission of simulated AE signals through human teeth and hard and soft tissues by biting on different types of hard food. The tests demonstrated that the transmission of AE signals through human tissues was feasible. However, the source was not reproducible. Further preliminary experiments were carried out to assess the transmission of AE in various dental materials as well as in bone and bone-implant combinations in various states of hydration. The main systematic body of work centred around establishing whether AE signals could discriminate between implants with different amounts of contact with bone. AE signals were generated by applying a standard impulse source through a specially-designed abutment onto dental implants of various sizes (large and small) inserted in bovine ribs under tight and loose fitting conditions. The findings suggested that this simple transmission test was able to assess the quality of the contact between the implant and the bone in the in vitro situation and that it might be possible to extend this to the clinical environment. The (standard) pencil lead break method was not suitable for use intra-orally, so a more suitable source for in vivo testing needed to be developed. After considering various options a continuous source (based on an air jet) was developed and this was applied to dental implants in the same set of systematic tests as for the pencil lead source. The analysis revealed that the air jet source was a little better at discriminating between the various implant contact conditions. Finally, an in vivo study was conducted to assess the characteristics of the transmitted AE form air jet source applied to the dental implants of a number of volunteers. The findings demonstrated that the AE transmission through the implants, soft and hard tissues using an air jet source was feasible, with the degree of transmission depending on a number of variables, some related to the patients themselves and some related to other, tractable engineering factors. The overall conclusion of the work is that the technique is very likely to be successful for monitoring implant stability, and is feasible to apply with minimum invasion to patients whose implants have been newly installed. An in vivo study in which the test is applied to patients during the stages of stabilisation of their implants is required in order to validate the technique.