Study Programmes 2015-2016
ELEN0078-2  
Acoustics and electroacoustics
Duration :
30h Th, 22h Pr, 8h Labo.
Number of credits :
Master in electrical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in computer science and engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in computer science and engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Jean-Jacques Embrechts
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
Course description Fundamentals of applied acoustics and electroacoustics are gathered in this course.
Contents
  • Interaction between the sound sources and their acoustic environment (radiation, propagation, reflection, transmission, diffraction)
  • The Kundt standing wave tube and the measurement of sound absorption
  • Room acoustics (several approaches) and auralization
  • Electro-mechano-acoustic analogies
  • Microphones and loudspeakers: properties and electoacoustic models
  • microphone arrays
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of this course, it is intended that the student will be able to:
  • identify the fundamental variables in acoustics, the types of acoustic propagation and the types of sources,
  • calculate the radiation impedance of acoustic sources,
  • understand and apply some noise indicators describing discomfort, in particular equivalent noise levels,
  • determine and measure (under normal incidence) the reflection coefficient and acoustic impedances of material samples,
  • understand the effects of eigenmodes in rooms and determine their frequencies,
  • calculate and measure reverberation times,
  • propose simulation models in room acoustics,
  • set up the electrical model of electro-mecano-acoustical systems,
  • develop the electroacoustic model of microphones and determine their main parameters,
  • develop the electroacoustical model of loudspeakers and determine their main parameters,
  • measure the principal characteristics of loudspeakers and other electroacoustic systems.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Fundamentals of electrical circuits analysis Mathematics : differential equations
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
First of all, this course is organised in modules, each of them consisting in a general presentation ex cathedra. Some modules are followed by applications and exercices with the teacher.
Some laboratory measurement sessions are planned, for example the measurement of reflection coefficients with the Kundt tube or the measurement of loudspeakers' properties. The presence of the students to these sessions is strongly recommended. These laboratory sessions are organised only once per academic year.
It is recommended that the students actively participate to the general presentation by answering questions and formulate critics. Also during the exercices, the students must be equipped with a calculator.
It is also recommended to read and understand the theory and exercices of the previous lesson before assisting to the next one. Additional exercices will also be proposed: it is strongly recommended that the students try to solve them by themselves and ask the teacher to evaluate their solution.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face learning
Recommended or required readings :
The learning materials and documents will be provided by the teacher on-line, via myULg.
Recommended readings (non-mandatory):
Rossi M., Audio, Presses polytechniques et universitaires romanes (2007)
Leach, Introduction to Electroacoustics and Audio Amplifier Design - 2nd edition, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Cy (2001)
Kuttruff H., Room acoustics 4th ed., Taylor & Francis (2000)
Watkinson, The art of sound reproduction,Focal Press (1998)
Assessment methods and criteria :
A written examination is organised in june and a second one in august-september (2nd session). The student will answer to questions concerning the theoretical matters and exercises that have been exposed during the presentations ex-cathedra and the laboratory sessions.
Questions are asked in english, the student is allowed to answer in french.
Learning materials and documents can be consulted for the solution of exercises only, unless otherwise stated (it is recommended to be equipped with an electronic calculator).
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
This course is organised during the second (spring) quadrimester, at the Montefiore Institute B28.
The official language is english.
Contacts :
J.J. Embrechts