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Ohio State researchers discover new method for designing soundproof spaces

2021-08-12T13:07:00-04:00

A new study by researchers out of The Ohio State University investigates a different kind of design for absorbing vibrations that could better soundproof materials.

Ryan Harne, senior author of the paper and former associate professor of mechanical engineering at Ohio State, along with former Ohio State doctoral student Sih-Ling Yeh, tested how well built-in resonators handled vibrations under a variety of scenarios. Resonators are devices that use spring-like oscillation to control and change vibrations. Some absorb and neutralize them, and others amplify and direct them to specific places. They’re present in some vehicles, which use them to limit the sound emitted from a car’s muffler. Bridges and buildings also utilize them to limit noise and movement.

Contrary to previous studies relating to resonators, which focused on adding one to an existing structure or vehicle part, Harne and Yeh considered embedding resonators directly into a material, rather than adding it later.

Ryan ...

Are skyscrapers making you sick? A new £7 million study is trying to find out

2017-03-20T14:15:00-04:00

“More and more people are living and working in high-rises and office blocks, but the true impact of vibrations on them is currently very poorly understood,” states Alex Pavic, Professor of Vibration Engineering at the University of Exeter.

“Humans spend 90 per cent of their lives in buildings which vibrate non-stop, but there is still very little reliable information about the effect of structural vibration.”

To fill this lacuna, a £7 million study will look at the effects of skyscrapers on human inhabitants, with a particular focus on potential roles triggering motion-sickness, sleepiness and even depression.

When you’re in a skyscraper, you may feel stable but, in fact, the building is probably slightly moving in response to wind or external forces like nearby construction. This is especially true in buildings constructed after the 1970s, when floor slabs became thinner and lighter. Alongside wider spaces between columns, this means newer buildings tend to not dampen vibrations as ...