Graphical representation of multiple sound reflections as an aid to enhance clarity across a whole audience

• Published in: Applied acoustics Vol. 206; p. 109305
• Main Authors: de Bort, Inès, Acuña Paz y Miño, Jairo, Beckers, Benoit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Clarity; Multiple reflections; Raytracing; Refurbishment; Room acoustics; Refurbishment; Raytracing; Room acoustics; Clarity; Multiple reflections
• ISSN: 0003-682X; 1872-910X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2023.109305

•Post-processing of a high-performance raytracing.•Design that simultaneously considerates multiple receivers.•Visual-based decision making.•Speech clarity is strongly influenced by absorber placement (case study No. 1).•A box-within-a-box reflector design is proposed (case study No. 2). We present a new graphical representation of multiple reflections for the acoustic refurbishment of rooms with low clarity values. This representation shows the spatial, temporal, and energy distribution of the incident reflections on a large number of receivers. It is based on a high-performance raytracing operation visualized on a panoramic Mollweide projection. The result is an abstract depiction that could not be measured with an acoustic camera. This representation method is used through two case studies of acoustic refurbishment: In the first one, to determine the ideal location of absorbent panels and in the second one, to improve the shape of a reflecting device in a chapel. In both cases, the images aid the designer to identify the best solution and to adapt it to the specific constraints of the project.