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Publications in Scientific Journals:

C. Theocharis, E. Kainmüller, J. Lechleitner, U. Pont, A. Mahdavi:
"Improving the Impact Sound Insulation of an Existing and Refurbished Wooden Beam Floor Construction";
Applied Mechanics and Materials, 861 (2017), 527 - 536.



English abstract:
A common source of dissatisfaction in buildings pertains to acoustical issues.
Specifically, in existing buildings, exposure to impact noise represents a frequent problem. In
Central Europe generally, and in Vienna (Austria) specifically, there is a significant number of
existing buildings with floor constructions involving wooden beams as structural elements. Given
the steady rise in inhabitants' expectations regarding buildings' acoustical quality, such existing floor
constructions do not sufficiently provide the sufficient impact noise insulation. In many instances,
the replacement of these floor constructions with concrete slabs is not an option, given a number of
structural, financial, and legal (conservation related) obstacles and constraints. The present
contribution thus explores the acoustical improvement potential of floor constructions with wooden
beams by using modern materials and techniques. Toward this end, a typical 19th century building in
Vienna downtown was selected. Multiple improvement options were realized. These involved the
deployment of a honey-comb acoustic system, installation of stiffeners bolted to the original
wooden beams, as well as an additional structurally decoupled ceiling layer. The impact sound was
measured at different stages of retrofit and compared with the performance of the original
construction.

German abstract:
(no english version) A common source of dissatisfaction in buildings pertains to acoustical issues.
Specifically, in existing buildings, exposure to impact noise represents a frequent problem. In
Central Europe generally, and in Vienna (Austria) specifically, there is a significant number of
existing buildings with floor constructions involving wooden beams as structural elements. Given
the steady rise in inhabitants' expectations regarding buildings' acoustical quality, such existing floor
constructions do not sufficiently provide the sufficient impact noise insulation. In many instances,
the replacement of these floor constructions with concrete slabs is not an option, given a number of
structural, financial, and legal (conservation related) obstacles and constraints. The present
contribution thus explores the acoustical improvement potential of floor constructions with wooden
beams by using modern materials and techniques. Toward this end, a typical 19th century building in
Vienna downtown was selected. Multiple improvement options were realized. These involved the
deployment of a honey-comb acoustic system, installation of stiffeners bolted to the original
wooden beams, as well as an additional structurally decoupled ceiling layer. The impact sound was
measured at different stages of retrofit and compared with the performance of the original
construction.

Keywords:
Impact Sound Insulation, Impact Sound Pressure Level, Renovation, Refurbished, Wooden Beam Floor, Building Acoustics, "Gründerzeit" Buildings.


"Official" electronic version of the publication (accessed through its Digital Object Identifier - DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.861.527


Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.