Scattering prediction and measurement in architectural acoustics.

Abstract

Reflected sound energy typically exhibits a combination of both specular and diffuse behavior when acoustic waves encounter a solid surface. For specularly reflected sound, the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence. A diffusely reflected sound is characterized by dispersion in both the spatial and temporal domains. The ability of a surface to diffusely reflect sound is characterized by the amount of scattering in its reflected energy, and can be determined using numerical prediction schemes and experimental measurement techniques. Although the study of scattering surfaces plays an integral role in several fields of acoustics, the development of these measurement and prediction procedures is relatively nascent, particularly in the field of architectural acoustics. An overview of the current state-of-the-art for these procedures will be presented along with an outline of possible future directions in this area of research.