Acoustical analysis of coupled spaces based on spatial parameters

Abstract

In the field of Architectural Acoustics, there has been a significant focus on binaural hearingand the way room design impacts a listener’s experience within that space. Up to this point, the Interaural Cross-correlation Coefficient (IACC) and its related property, Interaural Decorrelation Coefficient (IADC), have been integral in the understanding of how the sound envelops a listener. As previous research has indicated, it is possible to analyze single volume spaces using the IADC method with a 90 ms dividing value for the late reverberation tail. The aim of this project is to study the IADC within the context of a coupled volume situation in order to answer the following questions. Where does the threshold between early and late sound energy occur in a coupled situation? Is it possible to simulate the experience of being in a coupled space by manipulating the late reverberation tail? Is there a perceivable difference in the acoustic performance of coupled spaces when an aperture is closed versus when it is open? In order to answer these questions, there must be an experiment within a coupled space, as well as some level of perceptual testing. This thesis uses a binaural dummy head within the main volume for the examination of the sound field around a human subject when exposed to the secondary volume via an aperture. The research in this thesis indicates that the IADC in the later reverberation tails may vary drastically within coupled volume acoustics. Additional study may be required to find out how to best distinguish between early and late energy in a coupled space. Future research may support the continued construction of coupled volume concert venues as a way to increase the acoustical potential of these spaces.