Primers & Handbooks

The influence of acoustics on the design of buildings can be observed through the ages from Roman amphitheatres to the modern houses or buildings in which we spend our working hours and our leisure. The great difference, however, between life in ancient Rome and life in our crowded modern cities is the presence of noise from an ever increasing number of sources, from neighbours, traffic and industry.

This booklet gives answers to some of the basic questions asked by the newcomer to a noise measuring programme. It gives a brief explanation to questions like: What is sound ? Why do we measure sound ? What units do we use ? How do we hear ? What instruments do we use for measurement ? What is a weighting network ? What is frequency analysis ?

This booklet answers some of the basic questions asked by the newcomer to vibration measurement. It gives a brief explanation to the following: Why do we measure vibration? Where does it come from? What is vibration? How to quantify the vibration level, The vibration parameters, Acceleration, Velocity and Displacement, Measurement Units, Which parameter to measure, The piezoelectric accelerometer

Modal analysis is an efficient tool for describing, understanding, and modeling structural behaviour. The study of modal analysis is an excellent means of attaining a solid understanding of structural dynamics. "Structural Testing" consists of a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical background to modal analysis and structural dynamics.

Modal analysis of the data obtained from structural testing, provides us with a definitive description of the response of a structure, which can be evaluated against design specifications. It also enables us to construct a powerful tool, the modal model, with which we can investigate the effects of structural modifications, or predict how the structure will perform under changed operating conditions.

This booklet sets out to explain the fundamentals of sound intensity measurement. Both theory and applications will be covered. Although the booklet is intended as a basic introduction, some knowledge of sound pressure measurement is assumed. If you are unfamiliar with this subject, you may wish to consult our companion booklet "Measuring Sound".

This booklet deals with environmental noise − for example, noise from industrial sites, road and rail traffic, airports and fairgrounds. It does not cover related issues such as building acoustics, building vibration or domestic noise.

This handbook gives an insight into the theory behind the development of microphones and preamplifiers and explains the terminology used to describe these products. The aim of this volume is to promote a full understanding of measurement microphones and to provide sufficient background information for customers to get the best out of these products. It also gives adequate information for customers to be able to make informed and qualified decisions about the microphone products which are most suitable for their measurement requirements.