Measuring different acoustical properties have been the key in reducing noise and improving the sound quality from various sources. In this report, a broadband (200 Hz – 6.5 kHz) three-dimensional seven-microphone intensity probe system is developed to measure the sound intensity, and total energy density in different acoustical environments. Limitations of most commercial intensity probes in measuring the three-dimensional intensity for a broadband sound field was the main motivation in developing this probe. The finite-difference error and the phase mismatch error which are the two main errors associated with the intensity measurements are addressed in this report. As for the physical design, seven microphones were arranged in a two-concentric arrays with one microphone located at the center of the probe. The outer array is for low-frequencies (200 Hz – 1.0 kHz), and the inner one is for high-frequencies (1.0 kHz – 6.5 kHz). The screw adjustable center microphone is used for the microphone calibration, and as the reference microphone of the probe. The simultaneous calibrations of all the microphones in the probe were done in the anechoic room. Theories for the intensity and the energy densities calculations for the probe were derived from the existing four-microphone probe configuration. Reflection and diffraction effects on the intensity measurements due to the presence of the microphones, and the supporting structures were also investigated in this report. Directivity patterns of the calculated intensity showed the omnidirectional nature of the probe. The intensity, and total energy density were calculated and compared with the ideal values in the anechoic room environment. Characterization of sound fields in a reverberant enclosed space, and sound source identification are some applications that were investigated using this probe. Results of different measurements showed effectiveness of the probe as a tool to measure key acoustical properties in many practical environments. / text

In the late 1970s, a method was developed to estimate acoustic intensity in one dimension by taking the cross-spectral density of two closely-spaced microphone signals. Since then, multimicrophone probes have been developed to measure three-dimensional intensity as well as energy density. Their usefulness has led to the design of various types of multimicrophone probes, the most common being the four-microphone orthogonal, the four-microphone regular tetrahedron, and the six-microphone designs. These designs generally either consist of microphones suspended in space near each other or mounted on the surface of a sphere. This work analytically compares the relative merits of each probe design in measuring acoustic intensity and investigates the various finite-sum and finite-difference processing methods used with each. The analysis is limited to probes consisting of perfect point sensors in plane wave fields. The comparison is given in terms of average and maximum errors for intensity magnitude and direction as a function of angle of incidence as well as the spread between maximum and minimum errors for intensity magnitude. After existent probe geometries are reviewed, optimization techniques are introduced to predict what the optimal probe geometry would be for any given scenario. The probe is optimized to give the lowest intensity error averaged over angle of incidence of plane waves. This is done for full-space and half-space scenarios.

The aim of this master´s thesis is to work out a comparison and evaluation of selected methods used for sound field mapping. Thesis will include software tools and results of sample measurement on test object for each mapping method.

This thesis concerns method of determining sound power level of heating devices from acoustic intensity as a primary measured value. Thesis describes the characteristics of acoustic parameters and principles of acoustic measuring. Method of measurement at discret points according to ČSN EN ISO 9614-1 is compared with measurement by scanning according to ČSN ISO 9614-2. Methods are evaluated teoreticly as well as practically by companing results of experimental testing. Thesis also includes description of created model which evaluates acoustic measurement acording to the definitionof point method. The model is designed for measuring chain of Engineering Test Institute, Public Enterprise (SZU).