Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

New Trends in Acoustic Testing in Buildings

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Advances on Testing and Experimentation in Civil Engineering

Part of the book series: Springer Tracts in Civil Engineering ((SPRTRCIENG))

  • 236 Accesses

Abstract

Acoustic testing techniques are traditionally and most often used to characterise construction materials and construction elements, either to certify compliance with building codes for noise transmission or to check desired architectural acoustic properties. New metamaterials that are being developed with acoustic applications in mind include metal, ceramic and gel foams, porous asphalt and smart sound-absorbing materials that exceed the acoustic performance achievable with conventional materials. Some of these new materials have interesting nonlinear behaviour that requires new testing approaches for their acoustic characterisation and to fully explore their capabilities. Acoustic-based, non-invasive techniques are extremely useful for monitoring the health of built structures, to detect and characterise defects such as cracks and voids, and to locate sources through acoustic imaging. Experimental evaluation of the acoustic behaviour of materials and composite structures is particularly important when it comes to validating numerical models of acoustic propagation, whether for a single material or for extremely complex structures. New trends in low-cost instrumentation technology, such as disposable sensors or direct sensor-ADC interfaces, and large-scale autonomous monitoring systems such as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) also have potentially very interesting applications in the built environment. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an interdisciplinary overview of the latest developments and emerging techniques in acoustic testing, focusing particularly on existing and possible future applications in the field of civil engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lindsay RB (1964) Lindsay’s wheel of acoustics. J Acoust Soc Am 36:2242

    Google Scholar 

  2. Clark C, Paunovic K (2018) WHO environmental noise guidelines for the European region: a systematic review on environmental noise and quality of life, wellbeing and mental health. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:2400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jarosińska D, Héroux M-È, Wilkhu P, Creswick J, Verbeek J, Wothge J, Paunović E (2018) Development of the WHO environmental noise guidelines for the European region: an introduction. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwela DH (1999) Guidelines for community noise. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  5. EU, Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, p 12–25)

    Google Scholar 

  6. EEA, Noise in Europe 2020, EEA Report No22/2019. European Environment Agency. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/environmental-noise-in-europe. Last Accessed 19 June 2021

  7. International Standardization Organization (2017) ISO 1996-2: acoustics-description, measurement and assessment of environmental noise-part 2: determination of sound pressure levels. International Standardization Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  8. International Standardization Organization (2016) ISO 1996-1: acoustics-description, measurement and assessment of environmental noise-part 1: basic quantities and assessment procedures. International Standardization Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  9. Barrigón Morillas JM, Montes González D, Rey Gozalo G (2016) A review of the measurement procedure of the ISO 1996 standard. Relationship with the European noise directive. Sci Total Environ 565:595–606

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zagubień A, Wolniewicz K (2021) Impact of measuring microphone location on the result of environmental noise assessment. Appl Acoust 172:107662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Berglund B, Hassmén P, Job RF (1996) Sources and effects of low-frequency noise. J Acoust Soc Am 99(5):2985–3002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Alves JA, Paiva FN, Silva LT, Remoaldo P (2020) Low-frequency noise and its main effects on human health-a review of the literature between 2016 and 2019. Appl Sci 10:5205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Pedersen CS, Møller H, Christensen F, Olesen SK, Nielsen SB (2017) A low-frequency noise measurement and recording device for occupant operation. In: McMinn T, Duncan A, (eds) Acoustics 2017 Perth: proceedings of the annual conference of the Australian Acoustical Society: sound, science and society. Australian Acoustical Society, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sato H, Ryu J, Kurakata K (2018) Development of an on-site system for measuring the low-frequency noise and complainant’s responses. J Low Freq Noise Vib Act Control 37(2):373–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Fletcher MD, Lloyd Jones S, White PR, Dolder CN, Leighton TG, Lineton B (2018) Effects of very high-frequency sound and ultrasound on humans. Part I: adverse symptoms after exposure to audible very-high frequency sound. J Acoust Soc Am 144(4):2511–2520

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fletcher MD, Lloyd Jones S, White PR, Dolder CN, Leighton TG, Lineton B (2018) Effects of very high-frequency sound and ultrasound on humans. Part II: a double-blind randomized provocation study of inaudible 20-kHz ultrasound. J Acoust Soc Am 144(4):2521–2531

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fletcher MD, Lloyd Jones S, White PR, Dolder CN, Lineton B, Leighton TG (2018) Public exposure to ultrasound and very high-frequency sound in air. J Acoust Soc Am 144(4):2554–2564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Radosz J, Pleban D (2018) Ultrasonic noise measurements in the work environment. J Acoust Soc Am 144(4):2532–2538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Cieslak M, Kling C, Wolff A (2020) Ultrasound exposure in a workplace and a potential way to improve its measurement methodology. In: 2020 IEEE international workshop on metrology for industry 4.0 & IoT. Roma, Italy, pp 172–176

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schöneweiß R, Kling C, Koch C (2020) A laboratory study for occupational safety and health on the structure of airborne ultrasound fields. Acta Acustica 4(4):12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. John S (1991) Localization of light. Phys Today 44(5):32–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kushwaha MS, Halevi P, Dobrzynski L, Djafari-Rouhani B (1993) Acoustic band structure of periodic elastic composites. Phys Rev Lett 71(13):2022–2025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu Z, Chan CT, Sheng P (2002) Three-component elastic wave band-gap material. Phys Rev B 65(16):165116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Cruz-Muñoz FJ, Romero A, Galvín P, Tadeu A (2019) Acoustic waves scattered by elastic waveguides using a spectral approach with a 2.5D coupled boundary-finite element method. Eng Anal Bound Elem 106:47–58

    Google Scholar 

  25. Liu Z, Zhang X, Mao Y, Zhu YY, Yang Z, Chan CT, Sheng P (2000) Locally resonant sonic materials. Science 289(5485):1734–1736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hall AJ, Dodd G, Calius EP (2020) Multiplying resonances for attenuation in mechanical metamaterials: part 1-concepts, initial validation and single layer structures. Appl Acoust 170:107513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hall AJ, Dodd G, Calius EP (2021) Multiplying resonances for attenuation in mechanical metamaterials: part 2-multi-layer structures. Appl Acoust 179:108041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. International Standardization Organization (2021) ISO 10140-2: acoustics-laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements-part 2: measurement of airborne sound insulation. International Standardization Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  29. Emerson TA, Manimala JM (2020) Passive-adaptive mechanical wave manipulation using nonlinear metamaterial plates. Acta Mech 231:4665–4681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. António J, Tadeu A, Marques B, Almeida JAS, Pinto V (2018) Application of rice husk in the development of new composite boards. Constr Build Mater 176:432–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Marques B, Tadeu A, António J, Almeida J, de Brito J (2020) Mechanical, thermal and acoustic behaviour of polymer-based composite materials produced with rice husk and expanded cork by-products. Constr Build Mater 239:117851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Marques B, Tadeu A, Almeida J, António J, de Brito J (2020) Characterisation of sustainable building walls made from rice straw bales. J Build Eng 28:101041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hopkins C (2018) Sound transmission in buildings: recent developments and current challenges in measurement and prediction. In: Proceedings of Euronoise 2018, the 11th European congress and exposition on noise control engineering. Hersonissos, Crete

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rindel JH (2003) On the influence of low frequencies on the annoyance of noise from neighbours. In: Proceedings of InterNoise 2003. Seogwipo, Korea

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hagberg KG (2010) Evaluating field measurements of impact sound. Build Acoust 17:105–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ljunggren F, Simmons C, Hagberg K (2014) Correlation between sound insulation and occupants’ perception-proposal of alternative single number rating of impact sound. Appl Acoust 85:57–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Ljunggren F, Simmons C, Öqvist R (2017) Correlation between sound insulation and occupants’ perception-proposal of alternative single number rating of impact sound, part II. Appl Acoust 123:143–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. António J, Mateus D (2015) Influence of low frequency bands on airborne and impact sound insulation single numbers for typical Portuguese buildings. Appl Acoust 89(1):141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. European Committee for Standardization (2010) EN ISO 15186-3: acoustics-measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements using sound intensity-part 3: laboratory measurements at low frequencies (ISO 15186-3:2002). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  40. Conta S, Santoni A, Homb A (2020) Benchmarking the vibration velocity-based measurement methods to determine the radiated sound power from floor elements under impact excitation. Appl Acoust 169:107457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Roozen NB, Leclère Q, Urbán D, Méndez Echenagucia T, Block P, Rychtáriková M, Glorieux C (2018) Assessment of the airborne sound insulation from mobility vibration measurements; a hybrid experimental numerical approach. J Sound Vib 432:680–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. European Committee for Standardization (2017) EN ISO 16283-1: acoustics-field measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements-part 1: airborne sound insulation-amendment 1 (ISO 16283-1:2014/Amd 1:2017). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  43. European Committee for Standardization (2020) EN ISO 16283-2: acoustics-field measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements-part 2: impact sound insulation (ISO 16283-2:2020). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  44. European Committee for Standardization (2016) EN ISO 16283-3: acoustics-field measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements-part 3: façade sound insulation (ISO 16283-3:2016). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  45. European Committee for Standardization (2021) EN ISO 10140-3: acoustics-laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements-part 3: measurement of impact sound insulation (ISO 10140-3:2021). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  46. European Committee for Standardization (2021) EN ISO 10140-5: acoustics-laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements-part 5: requirements for test facilities and equipment (ISO 10140-5:2021). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  47. European Committee for Standardization (2020) EN ISO 10848-5: acoustics-laboratory and field measurement of the flanking transmission for airborne, impact and building service equipment sound between adjoining rooms-part 5: radiation efficiencies of building elements (ISO 10848-5:2020). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  48. European Committee for Standardization (2017) EN ISO 12354-1: Building acoustics-estimation of acoustic performance of buildings from the performance of elements-part 1: airborne sound insulation between rooms (ISO 12354-1:2017). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  49. European Committee for Standardization (2017) EN ISO 12354-2: building acoustics-estimation of acoustic performance of buildings from the performance of elements-part 2: impact sound insulation between rooms (ISO 12354-2:2017). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  50. Tadeu A, Pereira A, Godinho L, António J (2007) Prediction of airborne sound and impact sound insulation provided by single and multilayer systems using analytical expressions. Appl Acoust 68(1):17–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Tadeu A, António J (2001) 2.5D Green’s functions for elastodynamic problems in layered acoustic and elastic formations. Comput Model Eng Sci 2(4):477–495

    Google Scholar 

  52. Lietzén J, Miettinen J, Kylliäinen M, Pajunen S (2021) Impact force excitation generated by an ISO tapping machine on wooden floors. Appl Acoust 175:107821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Olsson J, Linderholt A (2020) Measurements of low frequency impact sound frequency response functions and vibrational properties of light weight timber floors utilizing the ISO rubber ball. Appl Acoust 166:107313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Conta S, Homb A (2020) Sound radiation of hollow box timber floors under impact excitation: an experimental parameter study. Appl Acoust 161:107190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Xie Z, Hu X, Du H, Zhang X (2020) Vibration behavior of timber-concrete composite floors under human-induced excitation. J Build Eng 32:101744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Hongisto V, Virjonen P, Maula H, Saarinen P, Radun J (2020) Impact sound insulation of floating floors: a psychoacoustic experiment linking standard objective rating and subjective perception. Build Environ 184:107225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Keränen J, Hakala J, Hongisto V (2019) The sound insulation of façades at frequencies 5–5000 Hz. Build Environ 156:12–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Asensio C, Trujillo JA, Arcas G (2018) Analysis of the effects of uneven sound coverage over a facade during a sound insulation test according to the international standard ISO 16283-3. Appl Acoust 130:52–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Ryu J, Song H (2019) Effect of building façade on indoor transportation noise annoyance in terms of frequency spectrum and expectation for sound insulation. Appl Acoust 152:21–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Rasmussen B (2010) Sound insulation between dwellings-requirements in building regulations in Europe. Appl Acoust 71(4):373–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Rasmussen B, Machimbarrena M (2019) Developing an international acoustic classification scheme for dwellings–from chaos & challenges to compromises & consensus? In: Proceedings of INTERNOISE 2019. Madrid, June 16–19

    Google Scholar 

  62. International Standardization Organization (2021) ISO/TS 19488, acoustics-acoustic classification of dwellings. International Standardization Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  63. Ma KW, Mak CM, Wong HM (2020) Development of a subjective scale for sound quality assessments in building acoustics. J Build Eng 29:101177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Torresin S, Albatici R, Aletta F, Babich F, Oberman T, Siboni S, Kang J (2020) Indoor soundscape assessment: a principal components model of acoustic perception in residential buildings. Build Environ 182:107152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Dümen AŞ, Bayazıt NT (2020) Enforcement of acoustic performance assessment in residential buildings and occupant satisfaction. Build Res Inf 48(8):866–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Llopis HS, Pind F, Jeong C-H (2020) Development of an auditory virtual reality system based on pre-computed B-format impulse responses for building design evaluation. Build Environ 169:106553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. European Committee for Standardization (2017) EN 15657: Acoustic properties of building elements and of buildings-laboratory measurement of structure-borne sound from building service equipment for all installation conditions. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  68. European Committee for Standardization (2017) EN ISO 10848-1: acoustics-laboratory and field measurement of flanking transmission for airborne, impact and building service equipment sound between adjoining rooms-part 1: frame document (ISO 10848-1:2017). European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  69. Villot M, Schneider M (2020) A simple method for predicting sound levels generated by structure-borne sound sources in buildings. Appl Acoust 165:107334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Schanda U, Hoßfeld M, Schöpfer F, Mayr A (2019) In-plane excitation of reception plates according to DIN EN 15657:2017. In: Ochmann M, Vorländer M, Fels J (eds) 23rd International congress on acoustics. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akustik e.V. (DEGA), 9–13 September 2019. Aachen, Berlin, Germany, pp 1255–1262

    Google Scholar 

  71. European Committee for Standardization (2009) EN 12354-5: building acoustics-estimation of acoustic performance of building from the performance of elements. Part 5: sound levels due to the service equipment. Brussels: European Committee for Standardization

    Google Scholar 

  72. Mayr AR, Schöpfer F, Schanda U, Hopkins C (2018) Measurement and prediction of structure-borne sound transmission from machinery in timber-frame buildings. In: Proceedings of Euronoise 2018, the 11th European congress and exposition on noise control engineering. Hersonissos, Crete, pp 27–31

    Google Scholar 

  73. Caliendo C (2014) Latest trends in acoustic sensing. Sensors 14:5781–5784

    Google Scholar 

  74. Gontier F, Lagrange M, Aumond P, Can A, Lavandier C (2017) An efficient audio coding scheme for quantitative and qualitative large scale acoustic monitoring using the sensor grid approach. Sensors 17(12):2758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Mydlarz C, Salamon J, Bello J (2017) The implementation of low-cost urban acoustic monitoring devices. Appl Acoust 117(B):207–218

    Google Scholar 

  76. Mydlarz C, Sharma M, Lockerman Y, Steers B, Silva C, Bello JP (2019) The life of a New York City noise sensor network. Sensors 19(6):1415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Picaut J, Can A, Fortin N, Ardouin J, Lagrange M (2020) Low-cost sensors for urban noise monitoring networks-a literature review. Sensors 20(8):2256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Grosse CU, Ohtsu M, Aggelis DG, Shiotani T (eds) (2021) Acoustic emission testing. Basics for research-applications in engineering. Springer International Publishing

    Google Scholar 

  79. Reid DS, Wood CM, Whitmore SA, Berigan WJ, Keane JJ, Sawyer SC, Shaklee PA, Kramer HA, Kelly KG, Reiss A, Kryshak N, Gutiérrez RJ, Klinck H, Peery MZ (2021) Noisy neighbors and reticent residents: distinguishing resident from non-resident individuals to improve passive acoustic monitoring. Glob Ecol Conserv 28:e01710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Gibb R, Browning E, Glover-Kapfer P, Jones KE (2019) Emerging opportunities and challenges for passive acoustics in ecological assessment and monitoring. Methods Ecol Evol 10:169–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Shonfield J, Bayne EM (2017) Autonomous recording units in avian ecological research: current use and future applications. Avian Conserv Ecol 12(1):14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Sheng Z, Pfersich S, Eldridge A, Zhou J, Tian D, Leung VCM (2019) Wireless acoustic sensor networks and edge computing for rapid acoustic monitoring. IEEE/CAA J Autom Sin 6(1):64–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Julieta António & António Tadeu

  2. Itecons, Coimbra, Portugal

    Julieta António, António Tadeu & João Dias Carrilho

  3. CERIS, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Dias Carrilho

Authors
  1. Julieta António
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. António Tadeu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. João Dias Carrilho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julieta António .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Carlos Chastre

  2. CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Neves

  3. CONSTRUCT-LESE, School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Diogo Ribeiro

  4. CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria Graça Neves

  5. CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulina Faria

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

António, J., Tadeu, A., Carrilho, J.D. (2023). New Trends in Acoustic Testing in Buildings. In: Chastre, C., Neves, J., Ribeiro, D., Neves, M.G., Faria, P. (eds) Advances on Testing and Experimentation in Civil Engineering. Springer Tracts in Civil Engineering . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23888-8_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23888-8_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-23887-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-23888-8

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation