Physics Project Abstract
ACOUSTIC QUALIFICATION OF AN ANECHOIC CHAMBER
Presenter:
Tracy Llenos, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; aceswild@imsa.edu
Mentor:
Ganesh Raman, Ph.D., Asian Anthropology, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2430 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60616
Abstract:
Anechoic chambers are built to provide a reflection free environment for sound testing. By constructing walls of large wedges of sound absorbing material, echoes that lead to miscalculations in acoustical measurements can be eliminated. We have constructed a new chamber for use in laboratories at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Before it can be used, we have performed acoustical test and measurements. This allows us to find the useful ranges in decibels for the anechoic chamber. Both steady state (continuous sound source) and transient (varying source location and duration) measurements were taken. Through computer techniques such as Fast Fourier Transform, the useful frequency ranges for the chamber were analyzed. The chamber was further qualified by performing a series of microphone calibrations inside.