FEM based prediction model for the impact sound level of floors

Up to now the research and development in the field of building acoustics is based mainly on experiments. The consequence of this approach is that the development and optimization of a new building component is a very tedious and expensive task. A considerably reduction of these costs could be achieved, if the optimization relying on experiments would be replaced - at least to some extent - by a computational approach. Common prediction models of the impact sound level from lightweight floors are based on measured impact sound level data for the component parts under consideration. These models are very useful for the evidence of performance of known building components, but they are not suited for the development of new components. An alternative approach in this context is the application of the finite element method (FEM). Based on a FE model, a modal- and spectral analyses provides the framework for an optimization of the building component. This contribution will present the overall approach consisting of the three-dimensional modeling of a lightweight-floor and the excitation source (tapping machine), the subsequent modal- and the spectral- analyses and the computation of the radiated sound from the floor.     «

Up to now the research and development in the field of building acoustics is based mainly on experiments. The consequence of this approach is that the development and optimization of a new building component is a very tedious and expensive task. A considerably reduction of these costs could be achieved, if the optimization relying on experiments would be replaced - at least to some extent - by a computational approach. Common prediction models of the impact sound level from lightweight floors ar...     »