No description available.

No description available.

The standard, EN12354-1 describes a simplified statistical energy analysis (SEA) model to predict the apparent sound reduction index between two rooms inclusive of the contributions of the flanking paths. There is interest worldwide in applying the EN12354 model to lightweight building elements. However, lightweight elements typically do not meet the requirements of an SEA subsystem and therefore applying the EN12354 model to these elements may result in inaccurate predictions. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically evaluate the application of the EN12354 model to lightweight building constructions. The evaluation included the determination of the probability density functions and the propagated uncertainty of the calculations. Knowledge of the probability density functions resulted in alternative calculations of the structure-borne sound transmitted through the constructions. The uncertainty analysis revealed that the uncertainty of the predictions is directly affected by the variance of the vibratory field measured on the elements. The vibratory fields of lightweight elements typically show large variances and therefore the propagated uncertainty of the EN12354 predictions for these elements can be significant. The investigation included measurements both in the laboratory and in the field. The results of the laboratory measurements were compared to both predictions using the EN12354 methods and ESEA models which included higher order flanking paths and non-resonant transmission paths. The field measurements included in this investigation were unique because the flanking intensity sound reduction indices of the elements in the source room were measured. The measurements allowed for the EN12354 predictions for each flanking element to be assessed instead of just the apparent sound reduction index between the rooms. The study resulted in proposed correction factors for when reciprocity does not hold and proposed changes to ISO10848 to improve the accuracy of the predictions when the EN12354 method was applied to lightweight building elements. However, neither the proposed correction factors nor the proposed changed to ISO10848-1 could correct for the potentially large differences between the predicted and the measured results. Based on the findings of this study, the use of the EN12354 model for the calculation of the apparent sound reduction index of lightweight elements is not endorsed. Lightweight constructions may not be categorized as ideal SEA subsystems due to the lack of diffuseness of the vibratory field. Furthermore, in order for EN12354 to be applied to lightweight constructions, a reliable method of calculating the resonant component of the sound reduction index of double-leaf elements is required. Therefore, statistical methods including the EN12354 method may be unsuitable for use for the prediction of flanking noise for lightweight building constructions.

The sound insulation demands for dwellings and public building has increased over the years as the number of sound sources has grown. From the outside our homes are exposed to noise from cars, trains, airplanes, etc. Noise intrudes from our neighbours and their television and stereo equipments. Also noise from spaces for mechanical services systems tends to become more important due to increasing energy saving demands. This thesis presents new analytical models for predicting the sound reduction index of single or double plate systems. In the single plate case, a theoretical and experimental analysis of the air-borne sound transmission through a single plate is presented. The plate is assumed to be excited by a diffuse sound field and the velocity distribution of the plate is derived from the Kirchoff plate equation in the frequency domain. The resulting Fourier transform is evaluated using residue calculus and the solution is verified numerically. The analytical model is valid for a wide frequency range, both below, above and at the critical frequency. Special interest is paid to the area dependency of the sound reduction index. This technique is further expanded for the double plate case by adding another plate and an intermediate layer which is modelled as a locally reacting spring. The model is valid and continuous through both the mass-spring-mass resonance and the coincidence region. The results from the analytical models show good agreement with measured results in both the single and double plate case. A simplified model is also presented for the sound reduction index of finite size floating floors. The model is valid for two elastic plates with a resilient layer in between where the bottom plate, the load-bearing slab, is assumed to be excited with a diffuse airborne sound field. The top plate and the resilient layer compose the floating floor. The problem is solved for frequencies below, between and above the critical frequencies of the plates. Above the critical frequency of the load-bearing plate, but below that of the floating slab, the main coupling between the plates will occur at the coincidence angle of the load-bearing plate. Above the critical frequency of both plates, the main transmission will occur at the angle of coincidence of each plate. As the plates will interact, the sound insulation improvement will to some extent depend on the properties of the load-bearing slab. It is shown how the sound reduction index depends on the physical parameters and the geometry of the plates. / QC 20101101

<p>This report is written on commission by WSP Acoustics. The report studies the outdoor sound levels on school yards in Stockholm. The questions given by the company to be answered was what are the actual sound levels at diffrent school yards with low traffic noise and how can you construct a facade element that reduces the sound level from the outside and meet the indoor requirements. Mesurements for four hours was done at eight schools set north and south of the city centre. The measurement period included one school break and one lunch break. The results of the measurements were that the equivalent and maximum sound level had small variations between the schools with some exceptions.The equivalent sound level was Leq 58-62 dB(A) and this shows a small variation. The school with the highest equivalent sound level of 67 dB was Maria skolan. This high level can be explained by more children on the school yard together at the same time etc. The maximum sound level was 85-89 dB(A), this if the level for Sofia skolan 82 dB was ignored. The level 85-89 dB(A) also shows a small variation. Calculations of the sound reduction index (R'w) for facade elements were also carried out for all the schools. The resulting sound reduction index for the whole facade was 34-41 dB. After assuming a 200 mm thick concrete facade for Sjöstadsskolan another calculation of building elements gives that the window have to reduce R'w 32 dB to meet the indoor requirements. In the future WSP Acoustics will use this report to choose building elements such as windows when building or rebuilding schools. It can also be used if any of the eight schools in this report needs a window changed to improve the acoustics.</p>

This report is written on commission by WSP Acoustics. The report studies the outdoor sound levels on school yards in Stockholm. The questions given by the company to be answered was what are the actual sound levels at diffrent school yards with low traffic noise and how can you construct a facade element that reduces the sound level from the outside and meet the indoor requirements. Mesurements for four hours was done at eight schools set north and south of the city centre. The measurement period included one school break and one lunch break. The results of the measurements were that the equivalent and maximum sound level had small variations between the schools with some exceptions.The equivalent sound level was Leq 58-62 dB(A) and this shows a small variation. The school with the highest equivalent sound level of 67 dB was Maria skolan. This high level can be explained by more children on the school yard together at the same time etc. The maximum sound level was 85-89 dB(A), this if the level for Sofia skolan 82 dB was ignored. The level 85-89 dB(A) also shows a small variation. Calculations of the sound reduction index (R'w) for facade elements were also carried out for all the schools. The resulting sound reduction index for the whole facade was 34-41 dB. After assuming a 200 mm thick concrete facade for Sjöstadsskolan another calculation of building elements gives that the window have to reduce R'w 32 dB to meet the indoor requirements. In the future WSP Acoustics will use this report to choose building elements such as windows when building or rebuilding schools. It can also be used if any of the eight schools in this report needs a window changed to improve the acoustics.

Environmental noise at high levels and inappropriate construction techniques used in conventional buildings in Brazil claim for a transition to better construction systems. Recently the Brazilian standard NBR 15575:2013 established for the first time parameters and criteria for residential building performance. In standard minimum requirements for sound insulation are given, for example for external walls and roof structures. This way it is of fundamental importance to have sound transmission loss data for diferente types of such elements at hand. Taking into account that there is very little information on the sound transmission loss of external walls of the light steel frame (LSF) type measurements of sound insulation of different vertical external LSF walls typically used in Brazil were carried out. Eighteen different LSF walls were mounted in the sound transmission measurement chamber of the Federal University of Santa Maria and measurements were carried out in accordance with ISO 10140:2010. Sound insulation was characterized by means of the sound reduction index R, the weighted sound reduction index Rw and the sound transmission class, making it possible to compare the sound insulation of the LSF walls with data from the literature. The LSF walls under investigation in this study used different materials such as OSB panels, cement boards, plaster boards, Smartside panels, PVC panels, XPS panels and magnesium oxide boards for the outer face. The influence of resilient channels and sponge tape, placed between the outer face and the metalic studes, were also evaluated. The sound insulation of the diferente LSF walls were found to be 43 dB ≤ Rw ≤ 50 dB and 45 dB ≤ STC ≤ 52 dB. Within the LSF walls measured the one which used magnesium oxide boards on the outer face showed to have the highest weight sound reduction index (Rw = 50 dB). Resilient channels, fabricated especially for this study, and sponge tape were able to provide an increase of Rw and STC up to 5 dB compared to the same wall without this resilient elements, and provide better sound insulation especially for frequencies higher than 400 Hz. From the data it can be concluded that LSF walls are more efficient regarding the sound insulation than single walls of the same surface mass and in some cases even better than single walls of superior surface mass, such as walls made of massive brick or concrete blocks. / O excesso de ruído ambiental e as inadequadas técnicas construtivas dos sistemas convencionais utilizados no mercado da construção civil brasileira, fazem com que seja necessária a introdução de novas tecnologias construtivas mais racionais e produtivas. A partir da entrada em vigor da NBR 15575:2013 foram estabelecidos diversos parâmetros de desempenho para edificações habitacionais. A referida norma também estabelece exigências mínimas de isolamento acústico para os sistemas que compõem as edificações, entre eles, as vedações verticais. Desta forma, informações sobre o isolamento acústico providenciado pelos diferentes sistemas construtivos tornaram-se de fundamental importância. Tendo em vista a pouca informação existente na literatura sobre o isolamento sonoro de paredes externas em light steel frame (LSF), foram realizadas medições de perda de transmissão sonora em paredes externas executadas neste sistema construtivo, usadas tipicamente no mercado brasileiro. Dezoito composições de paredes em LSF foram montadas na câmara reverberante de transmissão sonora da UFSM para realização dos ensaios de perda de transmissão conforme procedimentos propostos pela ISO 10140:2010. O isolamento sonoro foi quantificado a partir dos espectros do índice de redução sonora R, pelo índice de redução sonora ponderado Rw e pela classe de transmissão sonora STC, facilitando a comparação entre diferentes composições de parede e dados de isolamento sonoro encontrados na bibliografia. Os principais materiais utilizados no revestimento das paredes LSF foram paineis OSB, placas cimentícias, placas de gesso acartonado, réguas Smartside, réguas de siding vinílico, painéis XPS e placas de óxido de magnésio. A influência da utilização de barras resilientes e fitas de espuma de PVC, entre as placas de revestimento e a estrutura metálica, também foi avaliada. Determinou-se que o isolamento sonoro das diferentes paredes LSF avaliadas é de 43 dB ≤ Rw ≤ 50 dB e 45 dB ≤ STC ≤ 52 dB. Dentre as paredes externas em LSF, aquela que utilizou placas de óxido de magnésio na face exterior apresentou o maior Rw = 50 dB. As barras resilientes e fitas de espuma de PVC foram capazes de aumentar o Rw e STC em até 5 dB, se comparado à parede semelhante sem estes dispositivos, especialmente nas frequências a partir de 400 Hz. A partir da análise dos dados, concluiu-se que as paredes LSF consideradas paredes duplas são mais eficientes no isolamento sonoro quando comparadas às paredes simples ou homogêneas de mesma massa e até do que algumas paredes com massa muito superior, como paredes de tijolos maciços, de blocos de concreto ou de blocos cerâmicos.