Virtual Testing of Sound Insulation Panels

This paper presents capabilities of virtually performing acoustical testing procedures specified per ISO 140-3:1995 and ISO 140-4:1998 standards. This test setup consists of a sound source room, an insulation panel, and a receiving acoustic room which are described in terms of parameters of practical interests. A number of sound sources can be placed at any desired locations in the source room. The insulation panel is an elastic plate loaded with features of design interest such as layers of acoustical materials, structural reinforcements, holes, etc. It can also be used to predict the effects of installation conditions on sound insulation performance of a sound insulation panel. The sound transmitted into the receiving room can be calculated based on the sound pressures "measured" at a number of locations and/or the sound intensity on the surface of the panel. This virtual testing system can also be used to determine the sound transmission characteristics via an opening of different shapes. An advantage of this testing system is that it is capable of determining the acoustical characteristics of a sound insulation panel of structure which is not yet constructed. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the reliability and ease-of-use of this virtual testing system.