Re: Re: Re: Kleenex and Spit


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Posted by Paul R. Ogushwitz on August 18, 2000 at 07:01:55:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Kleenex and Spit posted by Rick Denney on August 17, 2000 at 22:35:20:

Rick, About ten years ago, we built a prototype acoustical device for measuring the thickness of sediment moving along the bottom of a river (the "bedload"). The initial experiment was conducted in an air (not water) environment. Initially, the experiment was plagued with acoustical interference, which turned out to be sound reflected back into the measurement space from nearby structures. In an attempt to remove the problem, we did extensive testing of acoustical absorbers and containment structures, until it became clear that these did not solve the problem. We solved the problem by scattering the unwanted sound. (For comparison to your situation, the nominal operating frequency in the experiment was 1000 Hz, and we were working 15-20 wavelengths from the structures.)

The bottom line for your situation is the same. To answer your question, NO damping material is effective at tuba frequencies. At low frequencies, the measures that are being proposed (acoustical tiles, acoustical foam, double-wall construction, etc) are highly ineffective as absorbers, and not even particularly good scatterers. Bottom line: If you go the "modify the house" route, it's going to cost you lots of money for nothing.

Since trees are not to your liking, you have another option: build a wooden wall to deflect the sound away from your neighbors' house. Make it tall enough and wide enough to block direct sound toward the neighbors. (The closer to your own house it is, the shorter and narrower it need be.) If a wall is not appealing, then build a trellis. The uprights can be 4"x4", put a horizontal crosspiece at top and at bottom from one upright to the next, and hang a sheet of diagonal lattice in the interior space. Grow ivy, trumpet vine, moon flower, clematis, or other fast-growing vines on the lattice (or all of them, if you like a riot of color). The lattice and leaves will scatter (diffuse) the sound in all directions, reducing the net sound power in the direction of the neighbors. Total cost is roughly $36 per section (2 4"x4"x10' (AT) $10 plus 2 2"x4"x8' (AT) $3 plus one sheet lattice (AT) $10). Same benefits accrue as from the earlier "tree" idea (preserve floor space, mollify wifey, beautify, oxygenate, sound-proof, and save big bucks). Put the lattice in front of or behind the juniper bush, it makes no never mind. Just don't eat the berries. You could even involve the neighbors in the project, just to show what a responsive, thoughtful, and caring guy you are.

"Modify your space for the bliss of the bass"

"Change your ground for that quiet tuba sound"


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