Measurement Uncertainty in Microphone Free-Field Comparison Calibrations

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the use of a transportable anechoic chamber for conducting microphone free-field calibrations with lowest levels of uncertainty. A dedicated transportable anechoic chamber (make SPEKTRA, Germany) of internal volume of 2 m3 completely lined with wedge-shaped absorbers is utilized for free-field calibrations in the frequency range of 125 Hz–20 kHz using the substitution method as per the IEC 61094-8 standard. The study has identified the usable working space inside a free-field chamber using the inverse-square pressure law, and the deviations from the inverse-square law of the free-field chamber are quantified. The measurement uncertainty of ± 0.36–0.52 dB (k = 2, 95% confidence level) is evaluated in the frequency range of 125 Hz–20 kHz and is validated in a bilateral comparison. The application of Monte Carlo simulation approach in the evaluation of measurement uncertainty in microphone free-field calibrations is also demonstrated.