Acoustic Engineer Course

Lesson 1 • Acoustic Quantities and Measurement Units

Defines sound pressure, intensity, power, and their SI units. Provides the quantitative language used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Sound Propagation in Free Field

Analyzes inverse-square law, directivity, and atmospheric effects on outdoor sound. Prepares students for source characterization and outdoor prediction.

Lesson 3 • Human Hearing and Psychoacoustics Basics

Introduces auditory anatomy, hearing range, and perceptual weighting curves. Connects physical measurements to human perception outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Nature and Properties of Sound Waves

Covers longitudinal wave propagation, particle displacement, and pressure fluctuations. Establishes the physical basis for all subsequent acoustic analysis.

Lesson 1 • Microphones and Transducer Principles

Explains condenser, electret, and MEMS microphone operating principles. Selecting the correct transducer is critical for measurement accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Measurement Descriptors and Metrics

Defines Leq, Lmax, Lmin, percentile levels, and SEL. These descriptors translate raw data into actionable engineering and regulatory metrics.

Lesson 3 • Calibration and Measurement Uncertainty

Addresses acoustic calibrators, field verification, and uncertainty budgeting. Calibration traceability is mandatory for defensible engineering reports.

Lesson 4 • Sound Level Meters and Analyzers

Covers integrating sound level meters, class specifications, and analyzer types. Proper instrument selection ensures data meets regulatory and project requirements.

Lesson 1 • Reflection, Diffraction, and Diffusion

Analyzes specular reflection, edge diffraction, and scattering from surfaces. These phenomena govern sound distribution and coloration in rooms.

Lesson 2 • Room Modes and Low-Frequency Acoustics

Identifies axial, tangential, and oblique modes and their effect on bass response. Mode management is essential in small rooms and critical listening spaces.

Lesson 3 • Acoustic Design of Enclosed Spaces

Integrates absorption, diffusion, and geometry to meet room-type acoustic criteria. Students apply design workflows to concert halls, classrooms, and offices.

Lesson 4 • Reverberation Theory and Calculation

Derives Sabine and Eyring reverberation time formulas and their application limits. Accurate RT prediction is the cornerstone of room acoustic design.

Lesson 1 • Source Ranking and Noise Mapping

Ranks contributing sources by level and frequency to prioritize control efforts. Noise mapping visualizes spatial distribution for planning and compliance.

Lesson 2 • Noise Source Types and Mechanisms

Classifies aerodynamic, mechanical, and electrical noise generation mechanisms. Understanding source physics guides selection of the most effective control strategy.

Lesson 3 • Industrial and Environmental Noise Sources

Characterizes HVAC, machinery, traffic, and construction noise profiles. Real-world source data enables accurate environmental impact predictions.

Lesson 4 • Frequency Analysis and Spectral Characterization

Applies octave, third-octave, and narrowband analysis to identify tonal and broadband content. Spectral data drives targeted noise control and compliance assessment.

Lesson 1 • Noise Control Hierarchy and Strategy

Establishes the source-path-receiver hierarchy and cost-effectiveness ranking. Strategic planning prevents over-engineering and ensures sustainable noise reduction.

Lesson 2 • Sound Barriers and Enclosures

Designs outdoor barriers and machine enclosures using insertion loss prediction methods. Barrier geometry and enclosure sealing are critical performance factors.

Lesson 3 • Silencers and Duct Acoustic Treatment

Covers reactive and dissipative silencer design for HVAC and exhaust systems. Proper silencer selection balances acoustic performance with pressure drop constraints.

Lesson 4 • Vibration Isolation and Damping

Applies isolation mounts, damping treatments, and decoupling techniques to reduce structure-borne noise. Vibration control prevents noise regeneration at remote surfaces.

Lesson 1 • Wall and Partition Design

Specifies single-stud, double-stud, and resilient-channel wall assemblies for target STC ratings. Structural decoupling and cavity absorption are key design levers.

Lesson 2 • Floor-Ceiling Assemblies and Impact Noise

Addresses airborne and impact sound isolation in floor systems using IIC and FIIC ratings. Floating floor and resilient underlayment design are covered in detail.

Lesson 3 • Sound Transmission Loss Fundamentals

Derives mass law, coincidence effect, and double-leaf partition behavior. Transmission loss theory underpins all partition specification decisions.

Lesson 4 • Flanking Transmission and Weak Links

Identifies flanking paths through structure, gaps, and penetrations that bypass primary barriers. Flanking control is essential to achieving rated field performance.

Lesson 1 • Transportation Noise Assessment

Applies road, rail, and aircraft noise prediction methods to corridor and airport projects. Transportation noise dominates most urban environmental assessments.

Lesson 2 • Outdoor Sound Propagation Modeling

Applies engineering propagation models accounting for ground, barriers, and meteorology. Accurate propagation modeling is the technical core of impact assessment.

Lesson 3 • Environmental Noise Criteria and Limits

Reviews community noise metrics, land-use compatibility guidelines, and occupational exposure limits. Criteria selection frames the entire assessment methodology.

Lesson 4 • Noise Impact Assessment Methodology

Structures baseline surveys, impact prediction, and significance evaluation. A systematic methodology ensures completeness and regulatory defensibility.

Lesson 1 • Boundary Element Method Applications

Applies BEM to exterior radiation, scattering, and sound power prediction problems. BEM eliminates volume meshing for unbounded exterior domains.

Lesson 2 • Statistical Energy Analysis

Uses SEA to predict high-frequency vibro-acoustic response in complex built-up structures. SEA is the preferred method when modal density is high.

Lesson 3 • Finite Element Method in Acoustics

Formulates acoustic FEM for interior cavities, coupled fluid-structure problems, and low-frequency analysis. FEM resolves wave behavior where geometric methods fail.

Lesson 4 • Geometric Acoustics and Ray Tracing

Uses image source and ray-tracing algorithms for room and outdoor propagation prediction. Geometric methods are efficient for high-frequency and large-scale problems.