A review of analytical methods, based on the wave approach, to compute partitions transmission loss

In this paper, various methods for calculating partition transparency are investigated. These methods are all based on the wave approach, yet they differ in the way of considering the incident field, partition leaf dimensions and the absorbing material, or absorbent, incorporated between the partition leaves. The method verification has been done through comparison with the experimental tal data available in the literature. Results are very convincing and the wave approach proves to be highly accurate. The basic wave approach is well suited for modeling of infinite single or double-leaf partitions, although the diffuse incident field requires spatial windowing to achieve agreement with experimental data. When porous material is incorporated inside double-leaf partitions, the model needs to be enhanced, based on the Biot theory, to ensure coincidence with experimental data. In the case of partitions, which cannot be considered infinite, spatial windowing is applied to the transparency to correct for the dimensional effect, especially in the low-frequency range. The final model turns out to be highly accurate, as long as spatial windowing is limited to the first coincidence frequency. The wave approach therefore proves to be a suitable method and calculation times are moreover acceptable. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.