Acoustic characterization of in-room footfall noise

Abstract

Existing literature concerning footfalls is primarily focused on its transmission between spaces, such as a floor/ceiling’s Impact Isolation Class. This study measured in-room sound power spectra produced by footfalls on eleven different floor surfaces using human subjects and a standard tapping machine. Within a reverberation room, 7 male and 7 female subjects walked on each floor while wearing 3 different types of footwear: Leather-soled with hard heels, rubber-soled with rubber heels, and sneakers. Sound power spectra were measured in 1/3 octaves using the procedures of ISO 3741. A tapping machine was also used on each floor profile using both standard drop weights and with cored samples of the same shoe soles attached to the bottom of each weight. The data for each floor profile produced averages by shoe type along with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. A total of 143 average sound power spectra were generated, based on eleven floors with thirteen averages per floor (3 male, 3 female shoes, 6 shoed tapping machines, and 1 bare tapping machine). Spectral results for each shoe/floor were studied and compared. Correlations between sound power spectra produced with human walkers versus tapping machine were investigated. [Work supported by The Paul S. Veneklasen Research Foundation.]