ECHO BARRIER H-SERIES User Manual page 17

Geometry
Optimum configuration and noise mitigation with
Echo Barrier's modular system
Noise source
The geometry of noise attenuation concerns the relative
positions of:
• any barrier;
• the source of the noise it is intended to mitigate; and
• the noise receiver (the human ear).
The closer the barrier is placed to the noise source,
the greater the noise mitigation, since the barrier's
'acoustic shadow' becomes larger—just as an object's
visual shadow becomes larger when placed closer to a
light source. If a barrier is made taller, this also increases
the size of the acoustic shadow and reduces the amount
of sound that passes over the barrier.
High-frequency sound is more directional than lower
frequency sound. This means that higher-frequency
sounds encountering a barrier are easier to mitigate than
low-frequency sound, which is more likely to diffract and
'leak' around the barrier.
For optimum mitigation of low-frequency sound, any barrier
should be as tall as practically possible. Echo Barrier's
modular system of acoustic panels can respond to this
need, since the panels can be readily assembled to create
an acoustic 'wall' or 'curtain.'
Optimum Echo Barrier
position
Figure 13. Barrier Geometry:
The Key to Optimum Noise Mitigation
ECHO BARRIER • USER MANUAL — REV. #0 (09/14/18) — PAGE 17
PERFORMANCE GUIDE
Noise
receiver
Echo Barrier
position
Acoustic shadow
Noise Absorption
Echo Barrier's patented technology means that sound
is absorbed, not reflected.
Essentially, there are three kinds of barriers that are used
in efforts to manage noise:
„ Massive, heavy barriers made of hard materials
such as wood, metal or glass
„ Basic 'sound blankets' and conventional
acoustic barriers which make use of generic
sound-absorbing materials such as fiberglass
and Rockwool
„ Echo Barrier's high-tech acoustic panels, which
are built around a lightweight composite which is
highly sound-absorbent