A comparative study on the acoustic behaviour of free-standing curved and flat single panel screens in an open-plan enclosed environment

摘要

Free-standing flat screen partitions are commonly used in open-plan environments to improve the visual and acoustic privacy of employees and to differentiate individual work spaces. Acoustic behaviour of flat screen single leaf barriers under free-field conditions have been extensively studied over the past years. However, the behaviour of such structures in enclosed spaces are not fully investigated; thus, missing any opportunities for geometrical improvements, such as damping due to added curvature. Curved structures are known to exhibit different stiffness and acoustic reflection properties compared to flat structures of similar global dimensions. Consequently, this work is an initial attempt to understand the acoustic performance of free-standing curved screens in comparison with flat screens of similar global dimensions within in an open-plan but enclosed environment. The acoustic performances of four different barrier designs are studied experimentally within an enclosure. The Sound Pressure Level (SPL) after introducing these barriers under 'White' and 'Pink' noises are analysed for a frequency range of 100 Hz and 16 kHz at one-third-octave bands. The single number equivalent LA_(eq) values are also compared for each of the four cases to quantify overall performance improvements. Furthermore, a 2D vibro-acoustic simulation model capable of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) is developed using the Finite Element Method (FEM) as part of this study. The numerical model was extended to analyse SPL of an open-plan enclosure before and after insertion of simple flat barrier. The simulation model presented is validated in comparison with experimental tests data complying relevant standards. This in turn can aid in the development of acoustically efficient free-standing partitions for open-plan enclosures.