4/30/2019 Propagation of Sound Outdoors

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Propagation of Sound Outdoors

Outdoor propagation of sound - distance and attenuation
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The energy in the propagation direction of the sound is inversely proportional to the increasing surface area the sound
propagates through and can be expressed as

Lp = LN + 10 log [(Q / 4 π) (1 / r12+ 1 / r22+ ...+1 / rn2) + 4 / R] (1)

or modified for a single source:

Lp = LN + 10 log (Q / (4 π r2) + 4 / R) (1b)

where

Lp = sound pressure level (dB)

LN = sound power level source in decibel (dB)

Q = directivity coefficient (1 uniform spherical, 2 uniform half spherical (single reflecting surface), 4 uniform radiation
over 1/4 sphere (two reflecting surfaces, corner)

r = distance from source (m)

R = room constant (m2)

Single Sound Source - Spherical Propagation

With uniform spherical radiation (1) can be modified to express the sound pressure level from a single sound source
as

Lp = LN + 10 log (1 / (4 π r2)

= LN - 10 log (4 π r2) (2)

since

Q =1

R≈∞

(2) can also be expressed as:

Lp = LN - 20 log (r) + K' (2b)

where

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K' = -11 (single sound source and spherical radiation)

Single Sound Source - Hemi-Spherical Propagation

When the sound source propagates hemi-spherically with the source near ground, the constant can be set to

K' = - 8

Note! When the distance - r - from a power source doubles, the sound pressure level decreases with 6 dB. This
relationship is also known as the inverse square law .

Other factors that affects the radiation of the sound are the direction of the source, barriers between the source and the
receiver and atmospheric conditions. Equation (1) can be modified to:

Lp = LN - 20 log r + K' + DI - Aa - Ab (3)

where

DI = directivity index

Aa = attenuation due to atmospheric conditions

Ab = attenuation due to barriers

Linear Sound Source

With a linear sound source, like a road or high-way with heavy traffic, (1) can be summarized (integrated) to express the
sound pressure as

Lp = LN - 10 log (4 π r) (4)

Note! When the distance - r - from a linear power source doubles, the sound pressure level decreases with 3 dB.
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Related Topics
Acoustics - Room acoustics and acoustic properties - decibel A, B and C - Noise Rating (NR) curves, sound
transmission, sound pressure, sound intensity and sound attenuation
Noise and Attenuation - Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound - noise, noise generation, silencers
and attenuation in HVAC systems

Related Documents
Abatement and Distance from Source - The disruption of sound pressure waves and reduction of noise is
called attenuation - Sound Pressure Level Calculator
Ldn - Day and Night Sound Level - EPA has defined an A-weighted sound level day and night equivalent for
a 24 hour period
Outdoor Ambient Sound Levels - Outdoor ambient sound level (dBA) in rural and urban business and
industrial environments with or without limited traffic
Propagation of Outdoor Sound - Partial Barriers - The transmission of sound through and around outdoor
barriers - the Fresnel Number
Voice Level at Distance - Required voice levels at distance

Tag Search
en: outdoor propagation sound noise decibel pressure

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