Definition and measurement of sound energy level of a transient sound source.

Abstract

Concerning stationary sound sources, sound power level which describes the sound power radiated by a sound source is clearly defined. For its measuring methods, the sound pressure methods using free field, hemi-free field and diffuse field have been established, and they have been standardized in the international and national standards. Further, the method of sound power measurement using the sound intensity technique has become popular. On the other hand, concerning transient sound sources such as impulsive and intermittent sound sources, the way of describing and measuring their acoustic outputs has not been established. In this paper, therefore, “sound energy level” which represents the total sound energy radiated by a single event of a transient sound source is first defined as contrasted with the sound power level. Subsequently, its measuring methods by two kinds of sound pressure method and sound intensity method are investigated theoretically and experimentally on referring to the methods of sound power level measurement.