Applications of a Reverberation Chamber in Solving Automotive Noise Problems

This paper contains a practical discussion of the applications of reverberation chambers to acoustical measurement problems often encountered by noise control engineers. The important characteristics of a reverberation chamber are explained and typical reverberation chamber construction demonstrated.

The advantage of the reverberation chamber as a simple method of measuring certain acoustic phenomena and acoustical properties is illustrated by its application in three typical examples. First, the application of the room to measurements involving directional sound sources is illustrated by a study of automotive alternator noise. Second, the use of the room as a nondirectional sound source in measurement of acoustical material properties is illustrated by sound barrier tests of material sample installations. Finally, the use of the room in measurements of acoustical properties of nonhomogeneous distributed materials is illustrated by a measurement of the average absorption of an automobile headliner as installed in a car.