Accuracy of Prediction Methods for Sound Insulation of Homogeneous Single Baffles

The article presents a comparative analysis of determined spectral responses of the airborne sound insulation of single homogeneous baffles using computational and experimental methods. Calculations using theoretical models, such as mass law, the Sharp and Davy models, SoundFlow software and laboratory tests concerned nine plates made of plastic, steel, aluminium and rubber, which are homogeneous materials. These materials are used in the construction of walls in vibroacoustic protection, such as acoustic barriers, machine operating field shields and sound insulating enclosures. Apart from analysing the spectral responses of the sound insulation of the plates, the weighted single-number sound reduction indices Rw, calculated by using prediction methods and laboratory measurements, were compared. Research has shown computational errors of about 6-7 dB for mass law and the Sharp model and about 3 dB for the Davy and Davy-Sharp models and SoundFlow software.