Improved Sound Field Reverberance and Diffusivity in a Reverberation Chamber Through Implementation of Resonant-Diffusing Wall Panels

摘要

A reverberation chamber is a room used to measure various acoustic quantities such as absorption coefficient and scattering coefficient. To achieve the required level of accuracy in the measurements, the sound field in the chamber must have a high level of diffusivity and reverberance. Although specific design criteria for the chamber are prescribed in various standards, it is often difficult to meet these ideal diffusivity and reverberance requirements. In the current study, a 1:4 scale reverberation chamber has been designed, built, and tested. The envelope geometry of the chamber was chosen to produce a reverberant and diffuse sound field. As part of this design, randomly placed hanging panels were installed in the room. Initial testing showed that the chamber did not meet standard specifications. A resonant-diffusing wall panel was then identified as a possible remedy for this inadequate acoustic design. The acoustic properties of the wall panel have been characterized, and a series of panels have been installed in the chamber. Measured data show that the installation of these wall panels is an effective approach for increasing both reverberance and sound field diffusivity according to standardized chamber qualification procedures.