Small room acoustic correction - web application for optimal treatment

Abstract

The acoustic behavior of rooms with reduced volume is known to be characterized by modal phenomena, which are responsible for the apperance of heterogeneous acoustic responses in space and frequency. For cases in which a certain acoustic quality is desired, such as rooms for phonographic practice and appreciation (among other examples), this characteristic should be circumvented. Among the known solutions to the problem, the implementation of sound absorption through the installation of perforated panels (PP) in the environment envelopes can be highlighted. In the literature, there is a continuous search for PP optimization, which has yielded proposals for alternatives such as the tunable perforated panel (TPP), a device designed to solve the performance particularity presented by PP without losing the simplicity and low-cost of production and installation, characteristic features of the solution. The gaps identified in the literature refer to the study of the real effectiveness of the proposed solutions. These are, in general, characterized individually in the laboratory, considering that an experimental investigation of absorption implementation results in a room may require high research cost and time. This same obstacle is observed outside the research centers: in general, the acoustic solutions offered by the market for modal treatment are applied by trial and error or, more commonly, without quality control of results. In this sense, a computational acoustic simulation tool capable of predicting the influence of absorption implementation in the modal field of rooms presents itself as a promising alternative. However, it is noted that the few commercially available acoustic simulation software that addresses modal behavior do not allow the implementation of absorption spectra in the environment envelopes - a fundamental function for an adequate analysis of acoustic treatment. Thus, the present research aims to study the feasibility of developing a cloud platform capable of serving as a tool for predicting the modal field of rooms with reduced volumes and their behavior regarding the optimized implementation of sound absorption via TPP. For such, it is suggested as research steps: study of computational methods able to serve the purpose; development of the tool based on the chosen method in terms of computational efficiency and cost; pre-experimental validation of the tool; tool enhancement with insertion of optimization functions for acoustic treatment; experimental validation of the improved tool (case study); and implementation of the cloud tool. Research is therefore expected to develop an innovative product for acoustical consulting, construction and architecture firms, acoustic panels manufacturers, freelance professionals and research centers. The quality and usefulness of the in situ performance of the solution have the potential to enter as an important product for national and international markets and, consequently, for the company. (AU)