Colloquia

Summary

Sound disturbance is the largest reason behind complaints about outdoor events. Especially, bass-frequencies can lead to annoyance for the surroundings of an outdoor event, for example a festival. Secondly, festivals are obligated to reduce their ecological footprint. In this research, design guidelines are constructed and used to produce a recyclable, sound damping product. Using literature research, the nature of sound, sound disturbance, challenges for festivals, and existing sound damping solutions were analysed. Similarly, materials were compared to identify which materials are sound-damping and recyclable. According to research thermoplastics have the biggest chance to possess both qualities. 3 thermoplastic materials were chosen which were then used to produce samples to conduct tests with.

The samples were made using a mechanical press for thermoplastics.  Samples of each material were produced at 2 temperatures since thermoplastics can become porous following a higher production temperature. Which could provide better sound-damping properties. To accommodate the testing set ups only small samples were required. The tests for the sound-damping properties at low frequencies were done using an impedance tube. To determine elasticity, which influences sound-damping properties, a Universal Testing Machine was used. For the product to be successful the goal was set to minimizing sound on the other side from where the sound is projected at the material. It was found that these materials mostly reflect sound instead of dampening it. From this research, the conclusion is drawn that these 3 materials are suitable for use in sound-damping for outdoor events, under the condition that it is first tested at a larger scale.