Transmission suite design for vibro-acoustic characterization of lightweight panels

This paper concerns with the design of an acoustic cavity (transmission suite) for the vibro-acoustic characterization of lightweight panels. This setup has the big advantage of being a small (1150x984x820 mm) which allows the identification of the studied behaviour for both structureand airborne excitation, on panels of different size (from A4 to A2) and thickness (up to 5cm). Particular effort is made for selecting an optimum geometric configuration. Taking into account the acoustic eigenfrequencies’ occurrences up to the Schroeder frequency and considering the surface averaged sound absorption coefficient (α) this design leads to the smoothest and most uniform distribution of the natural frequencies of the acoustic cavity. The final design results in a non-parallel walled concrete box of moderate dimensions. Specific care is taken for the implementation and building of the test setup. The resulting facility allows the identification of both structure-borne and air-borne acoustic isolation parameters in lightweight panels of different size.