Control of high-intensity acoustic test environments

Growing demand for commercial and defense satellites has resulted in a recent, dramatic increase in the demand for new high-intensity reverberant acoustic test facilities. During the past two years, three new acoustic test facilities representing a wide range of test capabilities were developed. These facilities differed significantly in the complexity of the noise generation systems, and thus the degree of spectral control that could be achieved. Control of the acoustic spectrum is accomplished by combining noise sources and components with limited capabilities into individual control bands in a manner that yields the desired overall performance. The paper shows the physical parameters involved that limit the performance capabilities of the components. Control requirements are developed for multiple bands through example calculations for an assumed acoustic facility model.