Hello guys, say, I'm interested in building some kind of poly diffuser/absorber. But again, seemingly conflicting information confuses me. Sooooo, here I go again.
Darryl, thank you for link. The article is interesting but as usual, my pesimistic nature directs my focus on data which doesn't agree with my limited understanding of acoustical science.
First, in regards to the authors instructions to glue gyp. board discs to the ends of the tube to make it "airtight", I don't understand what he is talking about. How in the world can a cylinder that is completely made of 703, of which air can move through in 360 degrees, be "airtight"? Same with ANY "bass trap" of that nature. PANEL traps yea. I understand airtight in that sense, but with open 703 panels or cylinders, WTF!!
Also, it would seem, if memory serves me, that for the 703 to absorb in the most effecient manner, an adjacent boundary must exist, which in this case, would have to be another cylinder within the 703 sleeve, but somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the 703 sleeve. HOWEVER, it would seem, being a cylinder, a soundwave with a wavelength larger than the diameter than the 703 cylinder would simply wrap around it as the 703 has more resistance than air. Also, a sound wave must strike a boundary PERPENDICURLY to reflect perpendicurly. How would an internal cylinder reflect perpendicurly? That is if I understand this concept correctly, which is sound(air molecule?) velocity is at its maximum velocity at 1/4 wavelength from a PERPENDICULAR boundary. What boundary is in his 703 cylinder? Here is a quote from the author of the article(please accept my apology for quoting him, but how else can I do this?)
(quote)
"A rough rule of thumb is 10-in. tube will absorb down to about 70 Hz. 20 in. tube to around 40 Hz." (unquote) Hmmmm....
Well, I don't know where he gets this data, but again, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, NO LABRATORY on earth can validate an absorption test below 100 hz. Please correct me on this if I am wrong, cause I sure don't want to be accused of spreading MORE unfounded "net fact", but if true, then this is just one more example of possibly unsubstantiated data that may lead the reader to beleiving it is fact, and spending time and money building something that may indeed not perform as claimed. Even Owens Corning 703 absorption coefficent spec's don't go below 125 hz.
So, at this point, I must also ask for Steves forgiveness, as I must quote HIM too. This is from a previous thread he replied to in regard to "corner bass traps". I do this because I haven't got the acoustical moxie to state it myself. Steve, your explanation to the workings of a "bass trap" is very informative and enlightening. However, in my mind, this explanation brings up the very issue I am refering to. Which is, the validity of the authors claims as to the absorption ability of his "cylindrical bass trap". Here is what Steve said.(I know I'm going to get maimed for this....)
qoute....
"First, the way bass traps work is that they present an "acoustic resistance" to sound waves.
This is the function of the rigid fiberglas inulation board. Moving air (sound wave) can't get thru the insulation board as easily as it can move in free air, so the energy it uses
to pass thru is partially converted to heat. Less sound energy, less sound.
Every sound has its own wavelength, which is expressed in (normally) either feet or meters; in feet, the formula is Wavelength=1130/f, with 1130 being the speed of sound in feet per second (approximate) at sea level, and f being the frequency in Hertz.
A wall, floor or ceiling is referred to as a "boundary" in acoustics - if we consider these boundaries to be impenetrable for sake of discussion, then at any boundary the air velocity from a sound wave striking it perpendicularly, will be ZERO, while its sound
PRESSURE will be maximum.
If you move away from the wall a distance of 1/4 wavelength of the sound (just one frequency for this example) at that point, the sound VELOCITY will be maximum, and the sound PRESSURE will be zero. This is important, becauseThe only place it does any good to place an acoustic resistance in order to trap sound, is where there is air movement, or velocity. The more velocity, the more sound energy is converted to heat.
This is why absorbent traps need air space behind them - the more distance included in the trap cavity, with all other things equal, the
lower frequency the trap will attenuate. The closer to 1/4 wavelength the absorbent is placed from the boundary, the better that frequency is absorbed.
Using the wavelength formula, if we plug in 100 hZ we find that the wavelength is 11.3 FEET ?!?!! sooo, 1/4 wavelength would be 2.825 feet, or nearly 34 inches. That would be the optimum depth of a trap that would work at 100 hZ - just one example, so you can see
some of the problems of making low bass traps.
One of the benefits of a corner trap is that the depth is varied, so the trap works at a broader range of frequencies.
Keeping in mind that in order for the trap to work, the sound wave must pass THROUGH it, not AROUND it, then it makes sense that one important criteria is that the absorbent material is SEALED around the edges so the sound must pass THROUGH it. The frame is mainly there to support the absorbent, and give you a place to tack a cloth cover, and for looks. The important part is the type and thickness of absorbent, the depth of the cavity behind the absorbent, the thoroughness of seal,and somewhat the angle of incidence that the sound strikes the absorbent. Perpendicular gives more absorbency than a glancing blow, for example. (unquote)
Cool. I just had to read this again and post it for all to read. Thanks Steve. Now, could you explain just one more thing

Still don't understand the "sealing" or "airtight" criteria though. How can 703 be "sealed"? If the frame is only for holding the panels in place and for a fabric fastening point, what if you removed the frame? How and WHAT do you seal? Hmmmmm......I must be having an anurism or at the least brain constipation....
Like,
If the speed of sound is "constant" at a given humidity and temperature, what does "sound velocity" refer to? I always thought that "velocity" is the same as "speed". And the speed of sound is constant. So how can sound "velocity" be maximum which implies that the speed of sound is NOT constant. In that case it must start at zero at a boundary, and ACCELERATE to its maximum speed within 1/4 wavelength. Correct? Hmmmm....what causes ACCELERATION? Is the distance an air molecule moves equal to a wavelength, but at the velocity of sound? Man, this stuff is mindboggleing.
This is why I ask questions here. To either get the REAL answers, or get the verbal shit kicked outta me. Either way, if it serves to bring light to this dark corner of ignorance on my behalf, then so be it. Kick away. I can take it
Wait a minute....I take that back.

I've already received my verbal abuse for the day from....well, nevermind. Ha!
Anyway, lets move on. This stuff brings up a few more things that I need cleared up so I don't lay in bed till 3 this morning trying to come to logical conclusions.
How bout this. What does the total absorption of a slot absorber depend on? Square footage of the slots? And what is the absorption coefficeint of ONE square foot of slot?
And how do you actually determine the absorption goal? Like, if an open window 1 foot square equals 1 Sabine of absorption, how do you know how many square feet of slots equal ONE Sabine?........not to mention the Hemholtz equasion.....nevermind, I have a headache. Time for bed and a couple of Sabine tablets. Thanks for reading my dribble.....later
Oh, Steve, hope your wife is more firestarting fluent than mine is. And may the gods of shoveling chores be merciful to you. The rain gods are getting ready for a party here. A "flood party" The last one was in 64'.......glurb...gurble....uh,anyone got a life raft? how bout an innertube?....
fitZ
