Environmental And Architectural Acoustics

Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to the practice of achieving a more acceptable acoustic environment, this book draws on the same basic principles to cover both the outdoors and indoor space. It starts with the fundamentals of sound waves and hearing and goes on to the measurement of noise and vibration, room acoustics, sound absorption, airb

This book is a guide to the practical technology involved in achieving a more acceptable acoustic environment for human life.

Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to the practice of achieving a more acceptable acoustic environment, this book draws on the same basic principles to cover both the outdoors and indoor space. It starts with the fundamentals of sound waves and hearing and goes on to the measurement of noise and vibration, room acoustics, sound absorption, airborne sound insulation and noise and vibration control. This serves as a foundation reference for students of architecture and environmental engineering, including those new to the study of acoustics. Problem-solving exercises are provided at the end of each chapter. The authors focus on techniques, methods and standards and lead into further more specialized material which makes the book useful for more advanced students and professional engineers.

"Acoustics in the Built Environment is an invaluable work of reference for the building professional, covering all aspects of acoustics. It is unique in its range of topics: the environment, transport infrastructure, building design, building systems and buildings in use. Each section has been contributed by an expert in the field, and has been written in the light of recent developments such as the Environmental Protection Act and the Health and Safety Executive's Noise at Work Regulations for minimizing hearing damage." "The book presents information relevant to the day-to-day work of project design teams in a concise, readily accessible and usable form. Frequent reference is made to appropriate Standards, Acts of Parliament and other prescriptive documents, which can be cited in performance specifications." "Its broad range of subject matter and its ease of use make Acoustics in the Built Environment an indispensable source of information for anyone concerned with building acoustics, whether they are architects, planners, engineers or environmental health officers."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

"This practical reference for design professionals and those in related fields, applies the latest research on sound behavior, high-performance materials, and audiovisual systems to a wide variety of building types and uses. Case studies draw on the firm's 22 years of experience as acoustical engineers, with drawings and diagrams helping to explain what can't be seen, only heard. Acoustics ""... takes what could be a dry, academic manual and infuses it with the energy of real life solutions."""

Architectural Acoustics, Second Edition presents a thorough technical overview of the discipline, from basic concepts to specific design advice. Beginning with a brief history, it reviews the fundamentals of acoustics, human perception and reaction to sound, acoustic noise measurements, noise metrics, and environmental noise characterization. In-depth treatment is given to the theoretical principles and practical applications of wave acoustics, sound transmission, vibration and vibration isolation, and noise transmission in floors and mechanical systems. Chapters on specific design problems demonstrate how to apply the theory, including treatment of multifamily dwellings, office buildings, rooms for speech, rooms for music, multipurpose rooms, auditoriums, sanctuaries, studios, listening rooms, and the design of sound reinforcement systems. Detailed figures illustrate the practical applications of acoustic principles, showing how to implement design ideas in actual structures. This compendium of theoretical and practical design information brings the relevant concepts, equations, techniques, and specific design problems together in one place, including both fundamentals and more advanced material. Practicing engineers will find it an invaluable reference for their daily work, while advanced students will appreciate its rigorous treatment of the basic building blocks of acoustical theory. Considered the most complete resource in the field – includes basic fundamental relations, derived from first principles, and examples needed to solve real engineering problems. Provides a well-organized text for students first approaching the subject as well as a reliable reference for experienced practitioners looking to refresh their technical knowledge base. New content for developing professionals includes case studies and coverage of specific focus areas such as audio visual design, theaters, and concert halls.

Offers architects, musicians, engineers, and other individuals concerned with the problems of environmental acoustics a guide to the acoustical design and construction of buildings. Bibliogs.