Control of reverberation times in dome-shaped halls

HANI S. OBEID
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Applied Sciences University
P.O.Box 950674, Amman 11195
JORDAN
Hobeid50@yahoo.com

Abstract: - This paper outlines the approach used in solving the acoustic problems in a
dome-shaped hall with high ceiling, which constitutes the main challenge in this work.
The reverberation time RT of such a huge volume without treatment is large and doesn’t
comply with the requirements of obtaining low RT. A computer simulation of the hall
was done and a series of calculations were performed by program EASE 3.0 for various
materials with different absorption coefficients in order to control the acoustical
environment within the hall and to obtain the required RT.

Key-words: - Reverberation times, absorption, and dome-shaped halls.

1. Introduction (43674 m3), height (40 m), and dome-shaped

ceiling. Since the hall is used mainly for
speech, the goal is to obtain high speech
intelligibility besides other acoustical design
The architectural shape of any construction
consideration. The other acoustical goals are
plays a vital role in its acoustical
speech naturalness and the lack of distortion
performance. The basic architectural shapes
or harshness [2]. The hall was simulated by
that are problematic are (in order of
using computer program EASE 3.0. Fig.1
difficulty) domes, round rooms, rooms with
shows a three dimensional modeling and
concave surfaces and cubical rooms. The
Fig. 2 shows a plan of the hall. Program
problem with all of these shapes is their
EASE
ability to focus reflected sound. The
geometry of each of these shapes causes
focal points and lines to form in space where
reflections tend to arrive simultaneously.
The simple solution is to destroy the
acoustic symmetry of the space while
maintaining its visual symmetry. This is
done by treating the surfaces with diffusive
and absorptive components [1]. This study
was performed to solve acoustical problems
in dome-shaped hall designed for parliament
meeting without affecting the architectural
and aesthetic aspects of the hall.
Fig. 1 Three-dimensional modeling of the
2. Architectural features of the hall
hall
The hall is constructed from reinforced
concrete and has a tremendous volume

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 This excessive RT will destroy the speech
intelligibility, and it is due to echo, which is
a potential problem in concave shaped
ceiling as in our case. The recommended RT
for such halls is in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 s
[3], while the optimum RT is (0.7-0.9) s [1].

3. Treatment of the internal

surface of the dome

Fig. 2 Plan of the hall The reflections from the internal ceiling
surface can’t be used as a reinforcement of
3.0 were used to calculate the reverberation the sound because the ceiling is very high
time RT of the hall. It was found that the RT and the reflections will be heard as echo.
of the hall without any treatment of the Therefore, in such cases, it is recommended
surfaces (ceiling and walls) is equal to 3.6 s to treat the ceiling with absorptive material
at mid frequencies (500-1000) Hz (Fig. 3). in order to prevent reflections from reaching
the listeners and to decrease the RT to
accepted level. Different absorptive
materials were used as a cladding to the
ceiling of the dome to explore the required
one. Table 1 shows the absorption
coefficients of these materials over the
frequency range (125-8000) Hz.

Fig. 3 Reverberation time of the hall without

any treatment

Table 1
Absorption coefficients over the frequency range (125-8000) Hz for different materials

Frequency, Hz
Material
125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
Concrete Block 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.07 0.08
Gibson boards 0.25 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.07 0.07
50% concrete and 50%
0.20 0.20 0.22 0.40 0.38 0.38 0.38
fiber glass
Acoustic spray 0.08 0.29 0.75 0.98 0.93 0.76 0.75
Perforated Gibson boards 0.45 0.70 0.70 0.65 0.75 0.80 -
Fiber glass 0.65 0.71 0.82 0.86 0.76 0.62 0.80
Roof fabric (12 oz/sq.
yard)
Foam 50 mm thick 0.09 0.29 0.64 0.97 1.05 0.97 0.75

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Sprayed cellulose fiber (75
0.70 0.95 1.0 0.85 0.85 0.90 -
mm) on solid baking

The reverberation times of the hall were calculated by EASE 3.0 for treated ceiling with different
absorptive materials and the results of the calculations are shown in table 2.

Table 2
Reverberation times of the hall for various materials

Frequency, Hz
Material
125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
Concrete block 8.4 6.92 3.88 3.23 3.03 2.32 1.28
Gibson boards 4.45 5.43 3.68 3.13 2.82 2.27 1.27
50% concrete and 50%
4.95 4.36 2.80 1.96 1.92 1.65 1.05
fiber glass
Acoustic spray 6.72 3.68 1.50 1.09 1.12 1.17 0.83
Perforated Gibson board 3.12 2.05 1.58 1.49 1.31 1.13 0.81
Fiber glass roof fabric (12
2.35 2.03 1.4 1.22 1.30 1.32 0.90
oz/sq. yard)
Foam 50 mm thick 6.53 3.68 1.68 1.1 1.05 0.98 0.73
Sprayed cellulose fiber
2.21 1.56 1.18 1.23 1.20 1.04 0.76
(75mm) on solid backing

The results of the calculations indicated that the dome will be very much high. High
the sprayed cellulose fiber if implemented temperature accelerates aging of material,
would be the right absorptive material and especially organic material. It is therefore
the reverberation time of the hall as a result not advisable to work with sprayed cellulose
of ceiling treatment is equal to 1.2 s for mid fiber on the exposed surfaces.
frequencies.
Also a very reliable fixing of any material to
3. Architectural aspects of the inside of the dome is of a great
importance because any item falling down
internal cladding from that high will seriously injure persons
underneath it.
The right selected absorptive material
constitutes the internal cladding of the Several different constructions were tested
dome, therefore, it must not only maintain a and verified and it was found that the most
high degree of sound absorption but must be appropriate construction to fulfill the stated
incombustible, non-aging even at high requirements is to manufacture the internal
temperatures (no drizzling of fine matter claddings in the form of cassettes. The best
after a few years), resistant against high material to construct the cassette from is
temperatures and be securely fixed. The perforated aluminum surface backed up by
other aspect is the material should be sound absorbing material. In particular, the
molded to obtain the required ornamentation cassette can be formed by an outer casing of
suggested by the interior designer. perforated aluminum sheets pressed in a
form as required by the interior designer or
Due to the high illumination load (1000 lux) architect. The finish of the visible surface of
in the hall much heat is generated by the cassette will be powder coating in the base
lamps. This heat is accumulating inside the color; further motives or decorations can be
dome with the result that the temperature in

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applied by screen printing or multi-layer
powder coating.

The aluminum surface shall be

manufactured of 1 mm perforated sheet
aluminum. The diameter of the holes shall
be 2.5 mm and the percentage of the holes
shall be equal or more than 16%. The
critical frequency for this type of perforation
above, at which the absorption will drop
dramatically, is equal to 6500 Hz. That
means the high absorption of this cassette
will be effective over a wide range of
frequencies from 125 Hz to 6500 Hz. That
range of frequencies is more than enough for
the type of activities that will be performed Fig. 4 Construction of aluminum cassette
in the hall.
4. Conclusion
40 mm thick mineral wools slabs shall be
fixed behind the aluminum surface. Textiles The reverberation time of dome-shaped hall
or tissues shall be laminated the surfaces of was studied by using a computer simulation
the mineral wool to prevent trickling of program EASE 3.0. It was found that the
glass fibers (Mineral wool slabs according to ceiling treatment with the right absorptive
DIN 18165). 500 mm air space shall be left material would yield the required
between the cassette and the concrete reverberation time. Due to architectural
surface of the dome. The degree of constraints a special construction was
absorption of this construction is shown in proposed, which has the required absorption
table 3. coefficient and fulfill the architectural needs.
Table 3
5. References
Absorption coefficient of an aluminum
cassette construction
1. David Egan. Architectural
Acoustics. McGraw-Hill. Inc., 1998
Freque
12 25 50 10 20 40 2. K.B. Ginn. (1978). Application of B
ncy,
5 0 0 00 00 00 & K Equipment to Architectural Acoustics,
Hz
1978. 1st Edition. B & K publication,
Absor Denmark.
ption O.4 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
3. Sound Advice. Sound system
coeffic 0 0 0 0 0 0
Handbook. Bureau Veritas, BOUYER.
ient

The fixing to concrete surface will be by

special approved metal dowels and a support
structure to maintain that required distance
from the concrete surface, which is
necessary for the correct sound absorption.
The whole structure shall be rigid and
sufficiently strong. Fig. 4 shows the
construction of the suggested aluminum
cassettes.