Acoustic Performance of Floors Made of Composite Panels

Abstract

Airborne and impact sound insulation of composite panels arranged in different configurations were investigated in this study. The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) in the building industry is growing; however, poor acoustic performance is a critical issue for their general employment in residential buildings. The study aimed to investigate possible methods of improvement. The principal research question involved the development of a composite floor satisfying acoustic expectations in dwellings. The study was based on the results of laboratory measurements. The airborne sound insulation of single panels was too low to meet any requirements. The double structure improved the sound insulation radically at middle and high frequencies but the single number values were still not satisfactory. Finally, the panel equipped with the suspended ceiling and floating screed achieved adequate level of performance. Regarding impact sound insulation, the lightweight floor coverings were ineffective and they even enhanced sound transmission in the middle frequency range. Heavy floating screeds behaved much better but the improvement was too small to satisfy acoustic requirements in residential buildings. The composite floor with a dry floating screed and a suspended ceiling appeared satisfactory with respect to airborne and impact sound insulation; the single number values were Rw (C; Ctr) = 61 (−2; −7) dB, and Ln,w = 49 dB, respectively. The results and conclusions outline directions for further development of an effective floor structure.

Effect of the Laying Order of Core Layer Materials on the Sound-Insulation Performance of High-Speed Train Carbody

“…Zhang et al [ 7 ] used the wavenumber finite element method and the wavenumber boundary element method to study the influence of core sections of rectangular, triangular and trapezoidal trusses on sound transmission loss of aluminum profiles in detail. Jacek et al [ 8 ] proposed the composite floor with a dry floating screed and a suspended ceiling, which achieved satisfactory results in airborne and impact sound insulation. Li et al [ 9 ] proposed an orthogonally rib-stiffened honeycomb double sandwich structure with periodic arrays of shunted piezoelectric patches, which can improve the low-frequency sound insulation of the aircraft cabin and broaden the sound-insulation bandwidth.…”

Alternative Method for Determination of Vibroacoustic Material Parameters for Building Applications

“…The fact that polyurethanes can be recycled materials increases their potential in terms of sustainable development. In residential construction, elastified polystyrene and mineral wool dominate as vibration-insulating materials for floors [ 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ], but there is a potential to use rebound polyurethanes because they have appropriate stiffness parameters.…”