Analysis of Acoustic Response of Rooms

J.S. Crompton[1], L.T. Gritter[1], S. Yushanov[1], K.C. Koppenhoefer[1], and D. Magyari[2]
[1]AltaSim Technologies, LLC, Columbus, OH, USA
[2]Golden Acoustics, Detroit, MI, USA
Published in 2010

The preferred acoustic response of recording studios, auditoriums and conference halls is to have an even energy response over the entire room and throughout full audio spectrum. This can be accomplished by using acoustic panels with complex surface structures that scatter acoustic waves and diffuse sound level variability over the room volume or through the use of sound absorbing materials to prevent reflections from hard surfaces. However, defining the location and orientation of these panels to optimize the distribution of acoustic energy currently relies upon experience and intuition. This work uses computational analysis to predict the behavior of acoustic rooms with integrated acoustic panels to develop a uniform energy response. This work used COMSOL Multiphysics to predict the acoustic response of rooms containing panels made from sound absorbing materials with complex surface structures. This allowed the positions and designs of acoustic panels to be optimized, and the preferred materials for room construction to be identified without continued iteration and experimental evaluations.