Printed in Great Britain PII: SOOO3-682X(97)00031-5 0003-682X/97 $17.00+0.00 Low-Frequency Airborne Sound Transmission through Single Partitions in Buildings

The low-frequency (20-2.50 Hz) airborne sound transmission of single partitions is investigated. Three theoretical models are used for the predic-tion: an infinite plate model, a based plate model and a room-plate-room model. The calculation models are verified by detailed comparisons with experimental results obtained in the laboratory. A parametric study is car-ried out to examine the influence of the dimensions of the room and the partition. The results demonstrate the strong modal behaviour of the low-frequency sound transmission. As a result, the low-frequency sound insula-tion depends not only on the properties of the test wall but also on the geometry and the dimensions of the room-wall-room system. In general, the large variation of the low-frequency insulation compromises the accuracy of prediction of the sound insulation in situ. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd