View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

An inexpensive apparatus for testing sound transmission loss in undergraduate labs.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: An inexpensive apparatus for testing sound transmission loss in undergraduate labs.
Authors: Augspurger, Mike1 (AUTHOR) michaelaugspurger@gmail.com
Source: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education. Jan2026, Vol. 54 Issue 1, p86-106. 21p.
Subject Terms: Signal processing, Acoustic measurements, Construction materials, College laboratories, Scientific computing, Sound-wave attenuation, Testing equipment
Abstract: A lab for undergraduate students on the transmission of sound through solids offers convenient avenues to teach students about dynamic signals, signal processing, and the complex physics of sound and sound transmission loss (STL). But sound transmission testing is prohibitively expensive, and normally requires either large dedicated spaces or expensive instrumentation. This paper describes an inexpensive lab process for efficiently measuring STL through common construction materials using a lab-built apparatus. Standard STL assessments are heavily dependent on testing details such as microphone and speaker placement, the size and attachment methods of sample materials, and methods of data processing to mitigate data noise caused by resonance, sample boundary conditions, and near-field sound. The process described here deliberately addresses these potential sources of error when measuring sound in a small space, and uses a set of innovative testing and processing approaches to replicate the results of a more rigorous testing procedure. The obtained results match published data and analytical results for STL through simple construction materials sufficiently to be useful for an undergraduate lab, with average deviations from published results and analytical predictions ranging from 1.4–6.5 dB for 5 validation tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 189505340
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: An inexpensive apparatus for testing sound transmission loss in undergraduate labs.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Augspurger%2C+Mike%22">Augspurger, Mike</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> michaelaugspurger@gmail.com</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Mechanical+Engineering+Education%22">International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 54 Issue 1, p86-106. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Signal+processing%22">Signal processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acoustic+measurements%22">Acoustic measurements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+materials%22">Construction materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+laboratories%22">College laboratories</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+computing%22">Scientific computing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sound-wave+attenuation%22">Sound-wave attenuation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Testing+equipment%22">Testing equipment</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A lab for undergraduate students on the transmission of sound through solids offers convenient avenues to teach students about dynamic signals, signal processing, and the complex physics of sound and sound transmission loss (STL). But sound transmission testing is prohibitively expensive, and normally requires either large dedicated spaces or expensive instrumentation. This paper describes an inexpensive lab process for efficiently measuring STL through common construction materials using a lab-built apparatus. Standard STL assessments are heavily dependent on testing details such as microphone and speaker placement, the size and attachment methods of sample materials, and methods of data processing to mitigate data noise caused by resonance, sample boundary conditions, and near-field sound. The process described here deliberately addresses these potential sources of error when measuring sound in a small space, and uses a set of innovative testing and processing approaches to replicate the results of a more rigorous testing procedure. The obtained results match published data and analytical results for STL through simple construction materials sufficiently to be useful for an undergraduate lab, with average deviations from published results and analytical predictions ranging from 1.4–6.5 dB for 5 validation tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=189505340
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/03064190241276090
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 86
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Signal processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acoustic measurements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Construction materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College laboratories
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific computing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound-wave attenuation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Testing equipment
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: An inexpensive apparatus for testing sound transmission loss in undergraduate labs.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Augspurger, Mike
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 03064190
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 54
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1