Acoustics in Architecture

Acoustics in

Architecture By Camila Nery

VocabularyVocabulary

Acoustics- Noun: A science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. acoustics refers to the quality, clarity and balance of sound waves as they move through a space.

Architectural Acoustics- Noun: The qualities that determine the ability of an enclosure to reflect sound waves in such a way as to produce distinct hearing.

Reverberate- Verb: To continue in or as if in a series of echoes; Echo, resound.

Building Components that Affect Acoustics

Building Components Building Components that Affect Acousticsthat Affect Acoustics

Reverberation Time The reverberant sound in an auditorium dies away with

time as the sound energy is absorbed by multiple interactions with the surfaces of the room. In a more reflective room, it will take longer for the sound to die away and the room is said to be 'live'. In a very absorbent room, the sound will die away quickly and the room will be described as acoustically 'dead'. But the time for reverberation to completely die away will depend upon how loud the sound was to begin with

Building Components Building Components that Affect Acousticsthat Affect Acoustics

Loudness Sound intensity is the rate at which energy is

being carried by a sound wave through a given area. It has the unit of Watts per square meter (W/m²)

Building Components Building Components that Affect Acousticsthat Affect Acoustics

Resonance   Acoustics: Intensification and prolongation of

sound, especially of a musical tone, produced by sympathetic vibration.      

Physics: The increase in amplitude of oscillation of an electric or mechanical system exposed to a periodic force whose frequency is equal or very close to the natural undamped frequency of the system.

Building Components Building Components that Affect Acousticsthat Affect Acoustics

Focusing The point where rays of light, heat, etc. or waves

of sound come together, or from which they spread or seem to spread.

Building Components Building Components that Affect Acousticsthat Affect Acoustics

Sound A sound wave is generated by a vibrating object.

The vibrations cause alternating compressions and rarefactions in the particles of the medium. The particles move back and forth in the direction of propagation of the wave. The speed of sound through a medium depends on the medium’s elasticity, density, and temperature.

The Kimmel Center Vs. Our Auditorium

(Verizon Hall)

Verizon HallVerizon Hall Seated atop 225 rubber isolation pads which help absorb

vibrations from the Subway. ~It was designed in the shape of a stringed instrument with no straight lines or squared angles.

Retractable curtains that absorb sound and reduce reverberation.

A series of doors along the sides of the hall that can be opened or closed to change the power of the sound and reverberation.

Large canopy above the stage with sound-reflecting panels that can be raised and lowered to affect the hall’s overall sound, as well as the way in which the musicians hear one another.

AuditoriumAuditorium The stage is raised so the sound can be projected well

Sound dampening panels on the side are good

Carpeting is bad (sucks up sound)

Shape is too wide for sound to travel

The stage is set back too far

Amplification system was not installed well, (only speakers in the front, none in the back)

BibliographyBibliography (dictionary.reference.com)

(http://www.suite101.com/content/how-loud-is-it-a62825)

(http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/acoustic/revtim.html)

http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?org=329&gclid=CPGqpNSi5agCFYfe4AoduGyGDg