Overview

This course is aimed at anyone who is curious about the fundamentals of sound and acoustic design. It is a foundational course in acoustics targeted at the beginner level. It provides an introduction to acoustic theory and applications of acoustic design in the built environment.It is assumed that students have a basic understanding of mathematical concepts, but it is not essential to progress through this course.Topics covered include: what is sound, how we hear sound, measuring sound, sound outdoors, sound in rooms, acoustic properties of materials, sound insulation and impact noise. Demonstrations of concepts are provided with visualisations, videos and auralisations (audio files).Twelve case study topics are presented based on real engineering projects. The case studies range from the design of a theatre, acoustics in offices and impact noise in a residential apartment.By the end of this course students will have enough background knowledge in acoustics to understand how sound and acoustics influences engineering and architectural designs in the built environment.Detailed course content:Section 1. Basic acoustics1 What is sound2 How our ears work3 Describing sound4 Decibel arithmetic5 Measuring sound6 Sound levelsSection 2. How sound behaves outdoors7 Sound propagation outdoors8 Sound decay with distance9 Source directivity and location10 Screening by barriersSection 3. Sound within spaces11 Sound propagation in rooms12 Acoustic properties of materials13 More detail on sound absorption14 Sound absorption vs sound insulationSection 4. Sound transfer between spaces15 Airborne and structureborne sound16 Sound insulating constructions17 Impact noise18 Sound insulating floor systems19 Impact noise reductionSection 5. Acoustic Case Studies20 Strategies for placement of room acoustic treatment21 Acoustic treatment for music22 Acoustic treatment for speech23 Diffusive surface finishes24 Room acoustic modelling25 3D Room acoustic modelling software26 Auralisation of room acoustics27 Acoustics for open plan offices28 Acoustic privacy in meeting rooms and offices29 Impact noise in a residential apartment30 Daylighting and acoustics31 Swimming pool acoustic design32 Theatre acoustic design

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