The challenge of acoustic prediction concerning the restoration of 19th century buildings

摘要

Buildings are part of a country's national heritage, they are part of a community culture and so they must be well cared-for and restored. In particular, updating traditional buildings that characterise our town centres without harming their uniqueness is a challenge. Acousticians frequently find themselves at the centre of this challenge, facing traditional solutions that should fulfil actual acoustical requirements. This paper presents the research carried out by the NI&DEA group, focusing on the development of constructive acoustical solutions for the restoration of traditional 19th century buildings. Original constructive solutions are typified regarding both architectonic and acoustic characteristics supported by measurements. Working mainly with models (B.Sharp, Meisser, E. Gerretsen and London), upgraded solutions were developed and conveniently tested by site measurements for validation. This paper presents the scientific frame where modulation was confined assuming that the very specific characteristics of the core of the buildings hardly allow for efficiency. Very light elements toggling with massive masonry solutions and windows and typically hugely-gaped doors create a unique environment for airborne sound insulation (DnT,,w, D2mnT,w) and for impact sound insulation (L'nT,w) that fully contrast that proposed by EN 12354-1/2 Standards calculations. The proposed solutions are technologically developed and are present for three main places: External walls with windows or doors, wooden slab enforcement, interior partitions. The potential demonstrated by these enhanced traditional solutions predicted a shift in current paradigms of building restoration and will allow acousticians to support the challenge of cultural heritage management regarding buildings.