Bamboo Revolution Acoustic Design Project
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
15-5-2019
End Date
15-5-2019
Abstract
The Bamboo Revolution showroom is a large industrial space in downtown Portland, OR, that is shared with a coffee bar. The owner has asked the CWU Physics Department to perform an acoustical analysis of this space and to make recommendations for ways to reduce sound transmission from the coffee shop to the showroom side, without blocking sight or movement. This task is especially well suited to a computer model, which enables the simulation of many different configurations of panels that absorb and scatter sound. After visiting the site in January 2019 to assess the dimensions of the room and determine the relative location of noise sources, we used the software package SoundPLAN to create a 3-D computer model of the showroom. Important architectural features, such as ceiling beams and windows, as well as two music speakers, are included in the model. With no alterations, the model results show that the sound level at the showroom end of the space is 2 dB less than the coffee shop end, where the speakers are located. This is the baseline against which the placement of acoustic panels is compared. Our approach is essentially to work backwards from a large partition of sound absorbing material, taking pieces out of it to find the smallest amount of material that achieves the target reduction in sound level. We also investigated how the position and orientation of individual panels affects the sound transmission while also creating an aesthetically pleasing visual display.
Recommended Citation
Kuhta, Eric, "Bamboo Revolution Acoustic Design Project" (2019). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 57.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/57
Department/Program
Physics
Slides for SOURCE 2019 presentation Kuhta
Additional Files
Bamboo Revolution Acoustic Design Project.pptx (3968 kB)Slides for SOURCE 2019 presentation Kuhta
Bamboo Revolution Acoustic Design Project
Ellensburg
The Bamboo Revolution showroom is a large industrial space in downtown Portland, OR, that is shared with a coffee bar. The owner has asked the CWU Physics Department to perform an acoustical analysis of this space and to make recommendations for ways to reduce sound transmission from the coffee shop to the showroom side, without blocking sight or movement. This task is especially well suited to a computer model, which enables the simulation of many different configurations of panels that absorb and scatter sound. After visiting the site in January 2019 to assess the dimensions of the room and determine the relative location of noise sources, we used the software package SoundPLAN to create a 3-D computer model of the showroom. Important architectural features, such as ceiling beams and windows, as well as two music speakers, are included in the model. With no alterations, the model results show that the sound level at the showroom end of the space is 2 dB less than the coffee shop end, where the speakers are located. This is the baseline against which the placement of acoustic panels is compared. Our approach is essentially to work backwards from a large partition of sound absorbing material, taking pieces out of it to find the smallest amount of material that achieves the target reduction in sound level. We also investigated how the position and orientation of individual panels affects the sound transmission while also creating an aesthetically pleasing visual display.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/57
Faculty Mentor(s)
Andy Piacsek