Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.

Sound Transmission Loss Through

a Concrete Wall

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.0.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See [Link]/trademarks.
Introduction
This model presents a practical and efficient method to compute the sound transmission
loss (STL) through a building component, specifically this example treats the case of a
concrete wall. The method, used here, is valid as long as the component has little influence
on the acoustic field on the source side. The method is based on assuming an ideal diffuse
field on the source side and an ideal anechoic termination on the receiver side of the
concrete wall. In typical measurement setups, the diffuse sound field is generated in a
reverberation room. At low frequencies, the fields that you can obtain are less than
perfectly diffuse. The measured STL will therefore to some extent depend on the
experimental conditions. From the approach used in this model, you can extract an ideal,
experiment-independent STL. The obtained results are compared to published
experimental data and shows good agreement.

Model Definition
In this tutorial, the sound transmission loss (STL) through a concrete wall will be modeled
using an approach that is well suited for numerical simulations. A review of STL
measurement techniques and theory is given below in order to motivate the simulation
approach used here. Following this discussion, the method is described in detail.

SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS (STL)

The STL through a building component, like a door, a window, a wall segment, or a sound
insulation structure, is defined as the ratio of the total incident power Pin, on the structure,
relative to the total transmitted power Ptr (measured on the dB scale),

P in
STL = 10log 10  -------- (1)
 P tr 

The STL is defined for conditions where the acoustic field on the source side is a diffuse
acoustic field. Several standards exist for the measurement of the STL, for example, ASTM
E90 or ISO 10140. Common to the methods is that they are devised in order to directly
or indirectly measure the incident and transmitted power using various methods. Typically,
a so-called two-room method is used. The two most common configurations both use a
reverberation room on the source side. The first also uses a reverberation room on the
receiver side (reverberant-reverberant) while the second uses an anechoic room on the
receiver side (reverberant-anechoic). The two configurations are sketched in Figure 1.

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 diffuse sound

speaker
microphone

test sample

intensity probe

anechoic treatment

Figure 1: The two variations of the two-room configuration for measuring the sound
transmission loss: (top) both source and receiver reverberation rooms, and (bottom) the source
reverberation room and receiver anechoic room.

In both cases, the incident power on the source side is computed as

2
p rms
P in = ---------- S s (2)
4ρc

where Ss is the area of the test surface on the source side (the area of the concrete wall
tested), prms is the RMS pressure in the source room, ρ is the density, and c is the speed
of sound. This expression is derived by considering the incident power on a surface in an
ideal diffuse acoustic field, see Ref. 1 and Ref. 2.

The expressions used to compute the incident and transmitted power for the reverberant-
reverberant case are only valid as long as the acoustic field is diffuse. A measure for the
transition from modal to diffuse behavior is given by the Schroeder frequency

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 T 60
f s = 2000 Hz --------
- (3)
V

where V is the room volume and T60 is the reverberation time; see Ref. 1. A room of
volume V is said to be acoustically large when the studied frequency f is larger than the
Schroeder frequency, giving the condition

2000 Hz 2
V >  ----------------------- T 60 (4)
f

Reverberant-Reverberant Setup
In the setup where also the receiver room is a reverberation room (Figure 1 top) and the
sound field is assumed diffuse, the transmitted power is given by

2
p rms
P tr = ---------- A r
4ρc
Ar =  Si αi (5)
i

where prms is the RMS pressure in the receiver room and Ar is the receiver room
absorption, that is, the product of each area Si and its absorption coefficient αi. The
expression stems from an energy balance consideration, that is, the total absorbed energy
is equal to the radiated energy of a source. Combining Equation 2 and Equation 5 gives
the expression for the STL for the reverberant-reverberant setup

Ss
STL = SPL s – SPL r + 10log 10  ------ (6)
 A r

where SPLs and SPLr is the average sound pressure level in the source and the receiver
room, respectively. Averaging is of course done on the RMS pressure before transforming
to the dB scale.

Note that a correction to Equation 5 is sometimes introduced (it is based on the

Waterhouse expression). At walls (in a room with a diffuse field), the RMS pressure will be
larger by a factor 2, because the incident and reflected fields are correlated, see Ref. 2. The
expression reads

2
p rms  S r,room λ 13.8
P tr = ----------
2 r
V 1 + --------------------- ----------- (7)
ρc 8V r  T e

where Te is the early decay time, Vr is the receiver room volume, Sr,room the receiver room
surface area, and λ is the wavelength.

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Reverberant-Anechoic Setup
In the reverberant-anechoic configuration (Figure 1 bottom), the transmitted power is
directly measured on the receiver side using an intensity probe. The measurement is
performed in several locations in front of the test element and averaged. The transmitted
power is then simply given by

P tr = S r I tr (8)

combining this expression with Equation 1 and Equation 2 gives

Ss
STL = SPL s – SIL tr + 10log 10  ----- – 6.14 (9)
 S r

for flat samples Ss = Sr and SILtr is the transmitted (measured) sound intensity level. The
numeric constant stems directly from the definitions of SPL and SIL and the equations
for the power, it is expressed as

2
 1 p ref 1 
10log 10  --- -------- ------ ≈ – 6.14 (10)
 4 I ref ρc

where pref = 20 µPa, Iref = 10-12 W/m, ρ =1.2 kg/m3, and c = 343 m/s.

STL (dB)

stiffness 6 dB per octave

controlled mass law
6 dB per octave
mass law
9 dB per octave
damping controlled

f11 fc f (Hz)

Figure 2: Schematic representation of the frequency dependency of the STL for panels made of
isotropic materials.

ESTIMATION MODEL FOR THE STL

The STL for panels (like the wall studied here) has a general frequency dependent behavior
that is sketched in Figure 2 for the case of isotropic elastic materials (see Ref. 3). At low

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frequencies, below the first mechanical (panel) resonance f11 of the structure, the STL is
stiffness controlled. At and around the resonance the STL drops drastically as the structure
acts as an optimal transmitter (dips can also occur for the second mode). Above the first
resonance the STL becomes mass controlled. This is in a relatively large frequency band
where the STL increases with 6 dB per octave. Then at the critical frequency fc, in a region
called the coincidence region, the STL decreases. Coincidence happens when the
wavelength of the pressure waves in the fluid are comparable to wavelength of the flexural
waves in the structure. Above this region the STL increases. It is first damping controlled
(9 dB per octave) before it approaches the mass law behavior again.

Several analytical perdition models exist for the STL for a simply supported panels (plastes
or walls), see Ref. 3. In the mass law region one model, called Sharp’s equation (for 1/3
octave STL values), is given as

πfm 2
STL = 10log 10  1 +  -----------  – 5.5 dB (11)
ρc

where m = ρsolid·T is the mass per unit area of the structure, ρsolid is the density of the
structure, and T is the thickness of the panel (here the wall, see Figure 3). Note that the
predicted STL from Sharp’s equation will in practice exceed the actual STL. This is because
the equation assumes an ideal limp panel and does not take into account the panel stiffness.
This same trend is seen in the model results discussed below. The slope in the mass law
region will obey the 6 dB per octave trend. A doubling of the wall thickness will double
the value of m and thus results in a 6 dB increase in STL for a given frequency.

IDEAL MODEL SETUP

When simulating the STL we want to avoid having to model the source and receiver rooms
as this would be computationally extremely expensive. Instead the setup is based on
assuming an ideal diffuse field on the source side and an ideal anechoic termination on the
receiver side of the test sample (here a concrete wall). Experimentally measured STL values
will to some extent depend on the experimental conditions. The model also assumes that
the test sample has little influence on the sound field on the source side. This is true for
relatively stiff structures with low acoustic absorption properties. This is the case for the
concrete wall studied in this example. In this case the sound field on the source side (the
source room) can be defined as a sum of N uncorrelated plane waves moving in random
directions. The source room pressure field is then

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 N
1
p room = ---------
N  exp ( –i ( kn,x x + kn,y y + kn,z z ) ) exp ( iΦn )
n=1
k n,x = cos ( θ n ) (12)

k n,y = sin ( θ n ) cos ( ϕ n )

k n,y = sin ( θ n ) sin ( ϕ n )

where the polar angles θ n and ϕ n , and the phase Φ n are independent random numbers.
In the model, a new set of random numbers is generated for each n in the sum. The 1 ⁄ N
term ensures that the field has a constant intensity for any choice of N. The theoretical
limit, for large N, of the average RMS pressure in the room (measured away from walls)
will then be p rms = 1 ⁄ 2 Pa .

At the concrete wall (placed in the x = 0 plane), the diffuse field is reflected. The reflected
component of the field is
N
1
p refl = ---------
N  exp ( –i ( –kn,x x + kn,y y + kn,z z ) ) exp ( iΦn ) . (13)
n=1

The reflected field is coherent with the incident field (as discussed for Equation 5). At the
surface of the concrete well, the total pressure load applied to the structure is the sum of
the diffuse room pressure and the reflected pressure

p wall = p room + p refl (14)

In the model, the room pressure, the reflected pressure, and wall pressures are defined as
global variables.

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 PML

pwall

H
proom

concrete wall air

(Solid Mechanics) (Pressure Acoustics)

Figure 3: Model setup of a concrete wall with an ideal diffuse field on the source side and an
ideal anechoic termination on the receiver side.

The wall pressure pwall is applied as a load on the source side of the concrete wall. On the
receiver side, a perfect anechoic room is modeled using an air domain terminated by a
perfectly matched layer (PML). The model setup is sketched in Figure 3.

The concrete wall has a height of H = 4.37 m, a width of W = 2.84 m, and a thickness of
T = 203 mm. The density of the concrete is ρcon = 2275 kg/m3, the Young’s modulus is
Econ = 31.6 GPa, the Poisson ration is 0.2, and a typical value of 0.01 is used as the
isotropic loss factor. The wall size and material data is taken from the test configuration
called 76-77 described in Ref. 4. The wall is assumed fixed at its outer boundary and
placed in an ideal surrounding wall that does not contribute to the STL.

Note that the fixed constraint used here is different from the “simply supported”
condition (a hinge-like condition) often used in the analytical prediction models. To
precisely predict measurements or model the behavior of building components in-situ a
good description of the outer boundary conditions is of course required. The condition
used will, for example, have a significant influence on the low frequency stiffness
controlled behavior of the STL.

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Results and Discussion
The incident intensity distribution on the concrete wall is depicted in Figure 4, evaluated
at 100 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz. The distribution is not dependent on the
solved model but only on the randomness and number of terms in the expression for the
room pressure room pressure field proom from Equation 12.

Figure 4: The incident intensity evaluated in the concrete wall surface.

The incident intensity on the half space (in the x-direction) is computed using its definition
as

11
I x, in = --- --- Re ( p room v∗ x, room )
22
(15)
– 1 ∂p room
v x, room = ---------- -----------------
iωρ ∂x

where the extra factor 1/2 is necessary as it is only the incident component of the room
field that should be used (half space contribution). The spatial distribution of the

9 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

transmitted (radiated) intensity is depicted for the same frequencies in Figure 5. The
transmitted intensity depends on the solved problem and is computed as

1
I x, tr = --- Re ( p t ( iωu )∗ ) (16)
2

where pt is the total acoustic pressure and u is the structural displacement in the
x direction. Both variables are solved for in the model.

Figure 5: The transmitted intensity evaluated on the concrete wall surface.

The displacement of the concrete wall, as well as the pressure in the receiver room, is
depicted in Figure 6 for the same four frequencies. At the low frequencies, the
displacement distribution is strongly dictated by the possible modes of the structure.

10 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

Comparing this to Figure 5 it is also evident that the transmitted intensity field is
controlled by the displacement.

Figure 6: The displacement of the concrete wall and the pressure on the receiver side.

The sound transmission loss (STL), computed using Equation 1, Equation 2, and
Equation 8, is depicted in Figure 7 and Figure 8. The STL is depicted as a continuous line
(evaluated for all the computed frequencies) as well as in octave bands or 1/3 octave
bands, respectively. Both graphs also include the typically measured STL. The data is
adapted from Ref. 4 and shows good agreement.

In Figure 7 the estimated STL using Sharp’s equation (see Equation 11) is also depicted
in the region where the mass law applies. The estimate shows the same trend with the
correct slope (6 dB per octave) but overestimates the STL. This is expected as Sharp’s
equation assumes a limp structure and does not include the stiffness effects.

The dips in the STL curve correspond to the first two structural modes which are depicted
in Figure 10. They occur at f11 = 113 Hz and f12 = 170 Hz. Below these frequencies the
STL is stiffness controlled and depends highly on the boundary conditions applied to the
structure. The mass law behavior applies above these.

11 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

Figure 7: Sound transmission loss (STL) through the concrete wall with octave bands.

Figure 8: Sound transmission loss (STL) through the concrete wall with 1/3 octave bands.

12 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

Finally, Figure 9 depicts the incident power on the wall computed using three different
methods. The blue graph shows the value given by the surface integral of Equation 15.
The green graph represents the value given by Equation 2 where the RMS pressure is
given as the average of proom over the wall surface. The red graph is also computed using
Equation 2 but with the RMS pressure set to the theoretical value p rms = 1 ⁄ 2 Pa . The
graphs indicate the expected large fluctuations at low frequencies where the wavelength is
comparable to the wall size. In measurement conditions the field would also not be diffuse
at these low frequencies.

Figure 9: The incident power on the wall evaluated using three different methods.

13 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

Figure 10: The first three modes of the structure.

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

The model is based on several assumptions:

• Perfect diffuse field in the source room.

• Perfect anechoic behavior in the receiver room.
• The structure under analysis has a negligible influence on the source room acoustic
field. This means that structure is stiff and has low absorption.

If the test sample does not meet the last requirement, then the source field acoustics needs
to be solved coupled with the structure. This can of course also be done.

References
1. H. Kuttruff, Room Acoustics, CRC Press, Fifth Edition, 2009.

14 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

2. F. Jacobsen, “The Sound Field in a Reverberation Room,” Lecture Note no. 31261,
Acoustic, Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2011.

3. D. A. Bies C. Hansen, and C. Howard, “Engineering Noise Control,” 5th Edition,

CRC Press, 2017.

4. A. Litvin and H.W. Belliston, “Sound Transmission Loss Through Concrete and
Concrete Masonry Walls,” American Concrete Institute, Journal Proceedings, vol. 45,
pp. 641–646, 1978.

Application Library path: Acoustics_Module/Building_and_Room_Acoustics/

sound_transmission_loss_concrete

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 3D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Acoustics>Acoustic-Structure Interaction>Acoustic-
Solid Interaction, Frequency Domain.
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Frequency Domain.
6 Click Done.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 Click Load from File.

15 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
sound_transmission_loss_concrete_parameters.txt.
Create an interpolation function that contains typical measurement data of the STL for
the concrete wall.

Interpolation 1 (int1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Global>Interpolation.
2 In the Settings window for Interpolation, locate the Definition section.
3 From the Data source list, choose File.
4 Click Browse.
5 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
sound_transmission_loss_concrete_measurement_data.txt.

6 Find the Functions subsection. In the table, enter the following settings:

Function name Position in file

STL_typical 1

7 Click Import.
8 Locate the Interpolation and Extrapolation section. From the Interpolation list, choose
Piecewise cubic.
9 Locate the Units section. In the Argument table, enter the following settings:

Argument Unit
t Hz

10 In the Function table, enter the following settings:

Function Unit
STL_typical dB

GEOMETRY 1

Block 1 (blk1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type T.
4 In the Depth text field, type W.
5 In the Height text field, type H.

16 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

Block 2 (blk2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 3*T.
4 In the Depth text field, type W+4*T.
5 In the Height text field, type H+4*T.
6 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type T.
7 In the y text field, type -2*T.
8 In the z text field, type -2*T.
9 Click to expand the Layers section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Layer name Thickness (m)

Layer 1 T

10 Find the Layer position subsection. Select the Right check box.
11 Select the Front check box.
12 Select the Back check box.
13 Select the Top check box.

17 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

14 Click Build All Objects.

PRESSURE ACOUSTICS, FREQUENCY DOMAIN (ACPR)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Pressure Acoustics,
Frequency Domain (acpr).
2 Select Domains 2–19 only.

SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Solid Mechanics (solid).
2 In the Settings window for Solid Mechanics, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.
4 Select Domain 1 only.

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MULTIPHYSICS

Acoustic-Structure Boundary 1 (asb1)

Click the Wireframe Rendering button in the Graphics toolbar.

ADD MATERIAL
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2 Go to the Add Material window.
3 In the tree, select Built-in>Air.
4 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.
5 In the Home toolbar, click Add Material to close the Add Material window.

MATERIALS

Concrete
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Concrete in the Label text field.
3 Select Domain 1 only.

19 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

4 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Young’s modulus E 31.6e9 Pa Young’s modulus and
Poisson’s ratio
Poisson’s ratio nu 0.2 1 Young’s modulus and
Poisson’s ratio
Density rho 2275 kg/m³ Basic

DEFINITIONS

Variables: Diffuse Field

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Definitions and
choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Variables: Diffuse Field in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Variables section. Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
sound_transmission_loss_concrete_variables_diffuse.txt.

Variables: STL
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Variables: STL in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Variables section. Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
sound_transmission_loss_concrete_variables_stl.txt.

Random 1 (rn1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Local>Random.
2 In the Settings window for Random, type costheta_rnd in the Function name text field.
3 Locate the Parameters section. In the Number of arguments text field, type 4.
4 In the Mean text field, type 0.5.

Random 2 (rn2)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Local>Random.
2 In the Settings window for Random, type phi_rnd in the Function name text field.
3 Locate the Parameters section. In the Number of arguments text field, type 4.

20 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

4 In the Mean text field, type pi.
5 In the Range text field, type 2*pi.

Random 3 (rn3)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Local>Random.
2 In the Settings window for Random, type phase_rnd in the Function name text field.
3 Locate the Parameters section. In the Number of arguments text field, type 4.
4 In the Mean text field, type pi.
5 In the Range text field, type 2*pi.

Integration 1 (intop1)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Nonlocal Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Settings window for Integration, type intop_in in the Operator name text field.
3 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 1 only.

Integration 2 (intop2)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Nonlocal Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Settings window for Integration, type intop_tr in the Operator name text field.
3 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 26 only.

Save solution on boundaries

1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Explicit.
2 In the Settings window for Explicit, type Save solution on boundaries in the Label
text field.
3 Locate the Input Entities section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.

21 | SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL

4 Select Boundaries 1–5, 19, 26, and 53 only.

Perfectly Matched Layer 1 (pml1)

1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Perfectly Matched Layer.

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2 Select Domains 2–5 and 7–19 only.

3 In the Settings window for Perfectly Matched Layer, locate the Scaling section.
4 In the PML scaling curvature parameter text field, type 2.

SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)

Linear Elastic Material 1

In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.

Damping 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Damping.
2 In the Settings window for Damping, locate the Damping Settings section.
3 From the Damping type list, choose Isotropic loss factor.
Remember to go back to the Concrete material and add the value for the isotropic loss
factor.

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MATERIALS

Concrete (mat2)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click
Concrete (mat2).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Isotropic structural loss eta_s 0.01 1 Basic
factor

SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)

Fixed Constraint 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Fixed Constraint.
2 Select Boundaries 2–5 only.
The selection should look like this.

Boundary Load 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Boundary Load.

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2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Boundary Load, locate the Force section.
4 From the Load type list, choose Pressure.
5 In the p text field, type p_wall.

In this model, the mesh is set up manually. Proceed by directly adding the desired mesh
component. The following steps show how to create a swept mesh to reduce the
computation time.

MESH 1

Free Quad 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and choose Free Quad.
2 Select Boundary 19 only.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, click Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.
4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size text field, type
c0/fmax/5.

5 In the Minimum element size text field, type c0/fmax/6.

Mapped 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and choose Mapped.
2 Select Boundaries 6, 9, 12, 16, 22, 26, 27, 30, and 33 only.

Distribution 1
1 Right-click Mapped 1 and choose Distribution.
2 Select Edges 16, 26, 35, and 39 only.
3 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
4 In the Number of elements text field, type 8.
5 Click Build All.

Swept 1
In the Mesh toolbar, click Swept.

Distribution 1
1 Right-click Swept 1 and choose Distribution.

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2 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.
4 Select Domain 1 only.
5 Locate the Distribution section. In the Number of elements text field, type 2.

Distribution 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Swept 1 and choose Distribution.
2 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.
4 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Select Box, then choose
Entity Intersects.
5 Select Domains 11–19 only.
6 Locate the Distribution section. In the Number of elements text field, type 8.
7 Click Build All.
The mesh should look like this.

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STUDY 1

Solution 1 (sol1)
1 In the Study toolbar, click Show Default Solver.
The default solver works, but to reduce the computation time, enable the second
suggested iterative solver. This solver is both faster and more memory efficient than the
default direct solver. It uses a multigrid preconditioner for the acoustic variables and a
direct preconditioner for the solid mechanics variables.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solution 1 (sol1) node.
3 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1>Solver Configurations>
Solution 1 (sol1)>Stationary Solver 1 node.
4 Right-click Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solution 1 (sol1)>Stationary Solver 1>
Suggested Iterative Solver (GMRES with GMG and Direct Precond.) (asb1) and choose
Enable.

Step 1: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Range.
4 In the Range dialog box, choose ISO preferred frequencies from the Entry method list.
5 In the Start frequency text field, type 35.
6 In the Stop frequency text field, type fmax.
7 From the Interval list, choose 1/12 octave.
8 Click Replace.
9 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, click to expand the
Values of Dependent Variables section.
10 Find the Store fields in output subsection. From the Settings list, choose For selections.
11 Under Selections, click Add.
To reduce the model size when saved, only store the solution on the selected
boundaries.
12 In the Add dialog box, select Save solution on boundaries in the Selections list.
13 Click OK.
14 In the Study toolbar, click Compute.

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RESULTS

Acoustic Pressure (acpr)

Inspect the default plots generated, you can change the evaluation frequency if needed.
Notice that the isosurface plot is less interesting as we have only stored the solution on
boundaries.

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Sound Pressure Level (acpr)

Acoustic Pressure, Isosurfaces (acpr)

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Stress (solid)
1 In the Model Builder window, click Stress (solid).
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, locate the Color Legend section.
3 Select the Show units check box.

Next, create plots of the incident and transmitted intensity, the displacement, as well as
1D plots of the STL.

Incident Intensity
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Incident Intensity in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Color Legend section. Select the Show units check box.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Incident Intensity and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type 0.5*Ix_room.

Selection 1
1 Right-click Surface 1 and choose Selection.

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2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Incident Intensity toolbar, click Plot.
The plot is depicted at four frequencies in Figure 4.

Transmitted Intensity
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Transmitted Intensity in the Label
text field.
3 Locate the Color Legend section. Select the Show units check box.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Transmitted Intensity and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type Ix_tr.

Selection 1
1 Right-click Surface 1 and choose Selection.
2 Select Boundary 26 only.
3 In the Transmitted Intensity toolbar, click Plot.
The plot is depicted at four frequencies in Figure 5.

Displacement
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Displacement in the Label text field.
3 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Manual.
4 In the Parameter indicator text field, type f = eval(freq) Hz.
5 Locate the Plot Settings section. Clear the Plot dataset edges check box.
6 Locate the Color Legend section. Select the Show units check box.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Displacement and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type [Link].

Deformation 1
Right-click Surface 1 and choose Deformation.

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Filter 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Surface 1 and choose Filter.
2 In the Settings window for Filter, locate the Element Selection section.
3 In the Logical expression for inclusion text field, type z>1.5[m].

Surface 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Displacement and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Coloring and Style section.
3 From the Color table list, choose Wave.
4 From the Scale list, choose Linear symmetric.

Selection 1
1 Right-click Surface 2 and choose Selection.
2 Select Boundary 53 only.
3 In the Displacement toolbar, click Plot.
The plot is depicted at four frequencies in Figure 6.
Postprocessing the STL variables is time consuming, so in order to save time setting up
the next three plots (avoiding automatic plotting when formatting the plots), enable the
Only plot when requested option.
4 In the Model Builder window, click Results.
5 In the Settings window for Results, locate the Update of Results section.
6 Select the Only plot when requested check box.

STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves)

1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves) in the
Label text field.
3 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Manual.
4 In the Title text area, type Sound Transmission Loss (octaves).
5 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the x-axis label check box.
6 In the associated text field, type f (Hz).
7 Select the y-axis label check box.
8 In the associated text field, type STL (dB).
9 Locate the Legend section. From the Position list, choose Lower left.

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Octave Band 1
1 In the STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves) toolbar, click More Plots and choose Octave Band.
2 In the Settings window for Octave Band, locate the Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Global.
4 Locate the y-Axis Data section. From the Expression type list, choose Power.
5 In the Expression text field, type P_in.
6 In the Power reference text field, type P_tr.
7 Locate the Plot section. From the Quantity list, choose Continuous power spectral density.

Octave Band 2
1 Right-click Octave Band 1 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Octave Band, locate the Plot section.
3 From the Quantity list, choose Band average power spectral density.
4 From the Band type list, choose Octave.
5 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. From the Type list, choose Outline.

Global 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves) and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the Data section.
3 From the Dataset list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (sol1).
4 From the Parameter selection (freq) list, choose From list.
5 From the Parameter values list select the frequencies from 100 Hz to 1180 Hz, where
the measurements are valid.
6 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

STL_typical(freq) Typical Measurements

7 In the STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves) toolbar, click Plot.

The STL plot, with the octave evaluation, is depicted in Figure 7.

STL: P_in/P_tr (1/3 octaves)

1 Right-click STL: P_in/P_tr (octaves) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type STL: P_in/P_tr (1/3 octaves) in
the Label text field.

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3 Locate the Title section. In the Title text area, type Sound Transmission Loss (1/3
octaves).

Octave Band 2
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the STL: P_in/P_tr (1/3 octaves) node, then click
Octave Band 2.
2 In the Settings window for Octave Band, locate the Plot section.
3 From the Quantity list, choose Band average power spectral density.
4 From the Band type list, choose 1/3 octave.

Global 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click STL: P_in/P_tr (1/3 octaves) and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the Data section.
3 From the Dataset list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (sol1).
4 From the Parameter selection (freq) list, choose From list.
5 From the Parameter values list select the frequencies from 200 Hz to 1180 Hz, to plot
Sharp’s equation here.
6 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

10*log10(1+(pi*freq*m/(rho0* Sharp's Equation (mass law)
c0))^2)-5.5

7 In the STL: P_in/P_tr (1/3 octaves) toolbar, click Plot.

The STL plot, with the 1/3 octave evaluation and Sharp’s equation, is depicted in
Figure 8.

Incident Power (three methods)

1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Incident Power (three methods) in
the Label text field.
3 Click to collapse the Title section. Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type
list, choose Manual.
4 In the Title text area, type Incident Power: Three Computation Methods.
5 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the x-axis label check box.
6 In the associated text field, type f (Hz).
7 Select the y-axis label check box.

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8 In the associated text field, type Power: P_in (W).
9 Locate the Axis section. Select the x-axis log scale check box.
10 Select the y-axis log scale check box.
11 Locate the Legend section. From the Position list, choose Lower right.

Global 1
1 Right-click Incident Power (three methods) and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

P_in W Incident power (half space)
P_in_proom W Incident power (room RMS pressure average)
P_in_theo W Incident power (theoretical)

4 In the Incident Power (three methods) toolbar, click Plot.

The power plot is depicted in Figure 9.
Proceed and add a second study to perform an eigenfrequency analysis of the structure
(the wall). When adding the study de-select the acoustic and the multiphysics coupling.
In the analysis setup look for the first 3 modes.

ADD STUDY
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to open the Add Study window.
2 Go to the Add Study window.
3 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>
Eigenfrequency.
4 Find the Physics interfaces in study subsection. In the table, clear the Solve check box for
Pressure Acoustics, Frequency Domain (acpr).
5 Find the Multiphysics couplings in study subsection. In the table, clear the Solve check
box for Acoustic-Structure Boundary 1 (asb1).
6 Click Add Study in the window toolbar.
7 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to close the Add Study window.

STUDY 2

Step 1: Eigenfrequency
1 In the Settings window for Eigenfrequency, locate the Study Settings section.

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2 Select the Desired number of eigenfrequencies check box.
3 In the associated text field, type 3.
4 From the Eigenfrequency search method around shift list, choose Larger real part.
5 In the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Mode Shape (solid)

The first three structural modes are depicted in Figure 10. A table with the eigenvalues is
also automatically generated. To see the table select the Eigenfrequencies (Study 2)
evaluation group node.

Finally, disable the Only plot when requested option for the results. Turn On the option to
Save plot data in order to avoid re-render the STL curves once the model is opened again.

1 In the Model Builder window, click Results.

2 In the Settings window for Results, locate the Update of Results section.
3 Clear the Only plot when requested check box.
4 Locate the Save Data in the Model section. From the Save plot data list, choose On.

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