Contribution
Acoustic Optimisation of Listening Room Dimensions with Non-Rigid Boundary Conditions Using the Finite Element Method
* Presenting author
Abstract:
Optimisation of room ratios based on modal density has been the subject of several studies within the field of room acoustics for listening rooms. Most existing optimisation paradigms assume rigid boundaries, ignoring the effect that non-rigid partitions, such as plasterboard walls, may have on the modal behaviour of the room. In order to understand the magnitude of such an effect on an optimisation process, an optimisation algorithm based on Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations has been developed. This adopts complex wall impedances as boundary conditions, allowing an analysis that is meaningfully closer to a real-world scenario for rooms with thin partitions, such as plasterboard or wood, as opposed to masonry assemblies. An evolutionary optimisation algorithm is used to optimise both the room dimensions and the positions of the sound sources and receivers, with the aim of identifying room conditions with minimum sound pressure level deviation across the frequency spectrum. The results are compared with those of previous studies and show an improvement in the uniformity of the transfer function when the complex impedance at the room boundaries is taken into account.