In architecture, understanding acoustics and the materials that
affects this element is very essential in designing an efficient space
since sound affects the overall function of the space, comfort as well as
the psychological function of the users.
Sounds impinged
upon a surface found in a
building interior have
three movements that
are happening
simultaneously.
Transmission, absorption
and reflection.
Transmission is when the sound
energy passes through the building
material.
Absorption is the reassignment of
the sound energy as heat within the
material. As the sound move and rub
together, they lose the energy through
friction
Reflection is the bouncing back
of the energy.
These movements varies depending on the material mass, surface
smoothness, fiber orientation, porosity, air tightness and stiffness.
, Example of building materials and how it affects the movement of
sound:
GLASS – has little mass and barely noticeable pores, thus the level of
reflection and transmission is very high but very small amount of
absorption.
SMOOTH CONCRETE – has more mass, it is airtight so there is an
absence of penetration. That being so, the level of transmission and
absorption is very low, however the level of reflection is high.
CONCRETE WITH A LAYER OF FABRIC WRAP GLASS FIBER – the
mass of the concrete restricts the sound energy from transmitting
through but the pores of the glass fiber but it absorbs a good amount of
sound energy thus very little is transmitted and reflected.
GLASS SMOOTH CONCRETE W/ A
CONCRETE FABRIC WRAP GLASS
FIBER
ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT
A metric use to quantify how much sound is reflected onto a room.
It is denoted with the Greek lower case alpha.
affects this element is very essential in designing an efficient space
since sound affects the overall function of the space, comfort as well as
the psychological function of the users.
Sounds impinged
upon a surface found in a
building interior have
three movements that
are happening
simultaneously.
Transmission, absorption
and reflection.
Transmission is when the sound
energy passes through the building
material.
Absorption is the reassignment of
the sound energy as heat within the
material. As the sound move and rub
together, they lose the energy through
friction
Reflection is the bouncing back
of the energy.
These movements varies depending on the material mass, surface
smoothness, fiber orientation, porosity, air tightness and stiffness.
, Example of building materials and how it affects the movement of
sound:
GLASS – has little mass and barely noticeable pores, thus the level of
reflection and transmission is very high but very small amount of
absorption.
SMOOTH CONCRETE – has more mass, it is airtight so there is an
absence of penetration. That being so, the level of transmission and
absorption is very low, however the level of reflection is high.
CONCRETE WITH A LAYER OF FABRIC WRAP GLASS FIBER – the
mass of the concrete restricts the sound energy from transmitting
through but the pores of the glass fiber but it absorbs a good amount of
sound energy thus very little is transmitted and reflected.
GLASS SMOOTH CONCRETE W/ A
CONCRETE FABRIC WRAP GLASS
FIBER
ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT
A metric use to quantify how much sound is reflected onto a room.
It is denoted with the Greek lower case alpha.
