Acoustics For Beginners

Foundational knowledge in acoustics including project case studies

What you'll learn

To gain an understanding of the fundamentals of acoustics and sound in the built environment.

Entry level acoustic knowledge for students or curious people who are interested in sound and acoustics.

Apply knowledge of acoustics to design of spaces in the built environment.

Experience project case studies where acoustic design is critical for the success of sustainable indoor spaces.

Requirements

No specific skills needed

Some mathematics skills needed for more advanced concepts

Description

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

Overview

Section 1: Basic Acoustics

Lecture 1 What is sound?

Lecture 2 How our ears work

Lecture 3 Describing sound

Lecture 4 Decibel arithmetic

Lecture 5 Measuring sound

Lecture 6 Sound levels

Section 2: How sound behaves outdoors

Lecture 7 Sound propagation outdoors

Lecture 8 Sound decay with distance

Lecture 9 Source directivity and location

Lecture 10 Screening by barriers

Section 3: Sound within spaces

Lecture 11 Sound propagation in rooms

Lecture 12 Acoustic properties of materials

Lecture 13 More detail on sound absorption

Lecture 14 Sound absorption vs sound insulation

Section 4: Sound transfer between spaces

Lecture 15 Airborne and structureborne sound

Lecture 16 Sound insulating constructions

Lecture 17 Impact noise

Lecture 18 Sound insulating floor systems

Lecture 19 Impact noise reduction

Section 5: Acoustic case studies

Lecture 20 Strategies for placement of acoustic treatment

Lecture 21 Acoustic treatment for music

Lecture 22 Acoustic treatment for speech

Lecture 23 Diffusive surface finishes

Lecture 24 Room acoustic modelling

Lecture 25 3D Room acoustic modelling software

Lecture 26 Auralisation of room acoustics

Lecture 27 Acoustics for open plan offices

Lecture 28 Acoustic privacy in meeting rooms and offices

Lecture 29 Impact noise in a residential apartment

Lecture 30 Daylighting and acoustics

Lecture 31 Swimming pool acoustic design

Lecture 32 Theatre acoustic design

Curious people who have an interest in sound and acoustics.