Fundamentals of Noise Control

Abstract

Active and passive noise control are two approaches to a common problem: how to get rid of unwanted noise. Active noise control aims to attenuate unwanted sound by introducing an electronically generated “canceling” sound field. Passive noise control aims to attenuate unwanted sound by modifying (structurally) the characteristics of the environment in which the sound source operates. In many ways, the two approaches are complementary, rather than alternative. To arrive at this conclusion, it is necessary to investigate the conditions under which each noise control technique performs well and the conditions under which they do not.