Acoustics For Beginners

What you'll learn
To gain an understanding of the fundamentals of acoustics and sound in the built environment.
Entry level acoustic knowledge for students or curious people who are interested in sound and acoustics.
Apply knowledge of acoustics to design of spaces in the built environment.
Experience project case studies where acoustic design is critical for the success of sustainable indoor spaces.
Requirements
No specific skills needed
Some mathematics skills needed for more advanced concepts
Description
This course is aimed at anyone who is curious about the fundamentals of sound and acoustic design. It is a foundational course in acoustics targeted at the beginner level. It provides an introduction to acoustic theory and applications of acoustic design in the built environment .It is assumed that students have a basic understanding of mathematical concepts, but it is not essential to progress through this course.Topics covered include: what is sound, how we hear sound, measuring sound, sound outdoors, sound in rooms, acoustic properties of materials, sound insulation and impact noise. Demonstrations of concepts are provided with visualisations, videos and auralisations (audio files).Twelve case study topics are presented based on real engineering projects. The case studies range from the design of a theatre, acoustics in offices and impact noise in a residential apartment .By the end of this course students will have enough background knowledge in acoustics to understand how sound and acoustics influences engineering and architectural designs in the built environment.Detailed course content:Section 1. Basic acoustics1 What is sound2 How our ears work3 Describing sound4 Decibel arithmetic5 Measuring sound6 Sound levelsSection 2. How sound behaves outdoors7 Sound propagation outdoors8 Sound decay with distance9 Source directivity and location10 Screening by barriersSection 3. Sound within spaces11 Sound propagation in rooms12 Acoustic properties of materials13 More detail on sound absorption14 Sound absorption vs sound insulationSection 4. Sound transfer between spaces15 Airborne and structureborne sound16 Sound insulating constructions17 Impact noise18 Sound insulating floor systems19 Impact noise reductionSection 5. Acoustic Case Studies20 Strategies for placement of room acoustic treatment21 Acoustic treatment for music22 Acoustic treatment for speech23 Diffusive surface finishes24 Room acoustic modelling25 3D Room acoustic modelling software26 Auralisation of room acoustics27 Acoustics for open plan offices28 Acoustic privacy in meeting rooms and offices29 Impact noise in a residential apartment30 Daylighting and acoustics31 Swimming pool acoustic design32 Theatre acoustic design
Overview
Section 1: Basic Acoustics
Lecture 1 What is sound?
Lecture 2 How our ears work
Lecture 3 Describing sound
Lecture 4 Decibel arithmetic
Lecture 5 Measuring sound
Lecture 6 Sound levels
Section 2: How sound behaves outdoors
Lecture 7 Sound propagation outdoors
Lecture 8 Sound decay with distance
Lecture 9 Source directivity and location
Lecture 10 Screening by barriers
Section 3: Sound within spaces
Lecture 11 Sound propagation in rooms
Lecture 12 Acoustic properties of materials
Lecture 13 More detail on sound absorption
Lecture 14 Sound absorption vs sound insulation
Section 4: Sound transfer between spaces
Lecture 15 Airborne and structureborne sound
Lecture 16 Sound insulating constructions
Lecture 17 Impact noise
Lecture 18 Sound insulating floor systems
Lecture 19 Impact noise reduction
Section 5: Acoustic case studies
Lecture 20 Strategies for placement of acoustic treatment
Lecture 21 Acoustic treatment for music
Lecture 22 Acoustic treatment for speech
Lecture 23 Diffusive surface finishes
Lecture 24 Room acoustic modelling
Lecture 25 3D Room acoustic modelling software
Lecture 26 Auralisation of room acoustics
Lecture 27 Acoustics for open plan offices
Lecture 28 Acoustic privacy in meeting rooms and offices
Lecture 29 Impact noise in a residential apartment
Lecture 30 Daylighting and acoustics
Lecture 31 Swimming pool acoustic design
Lecture 32 Theatre acoustic design
Curious people who have an interest in sound and acoustics.
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