Typological Analysis and Statistical Evaluation of Laboratory Measurements of Sound Reduction of Building Elements

Proper acoustic design of the living spaces can bring considerable benefits to the living comfort. In order to obtain an efficient sound insulation it is necessary to use a partition good for reduce the airborne noise and minimize the flanking transmission. The weighted sound reduction index Rw is a key value for the definition of the properties of airborne sound insulation of building elements. The acoustic transmission properties of a wall depend on the mass, stiffness and the capacity of the wall to dissipate energy. The behavior of a wall can be studied using a simplified model of a monolithic element observing the trend of sound reduction index in function of frequency. This work is based on the analysis of the sound reduction index, from laboratory measurements, of 224 vertical elements that differ by type of material and method of construction.