Description / Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
There are a number of factors which influence the propagation of
noise from an aircraft to a point on the ground. The purpose of
this ARP, however, is to consider only the classical and molecular
absorption of sound energy by the atmosphere. Spherical divergence,
scattering, refraction, and other effects should be treated
separately.
This ARP describes a method by which values can be obtained for
the absorption of sound in air over a wide range of temperature and
humidity conditions. Although it was developed primarily for use in
evaluating aircraft flyover noise measurements, the information
should be applicable to other noise problems as well.
The method presented is based on the theories of Kneser and
Evans and Bazley, the laboratory results of Harris and field data
from various sources. Although the final information was used from
these sources only, the works of many other individuals and groups
were used to arrive at a selection of the present method.
The experimental results of Harris, were obtained for a single
temperature of 20 °C (68°F). Essentially, these data were used and
curves based on Kneser's theory were modified to fit them. The
modified curves then served as a basis for obtaining values over a
wide range of temperatures, humidifies and frequencies. Once these
curves were established, they were compared with field results to
select a method for predicting absorption values for bands of noise
by using the absorption value for a single frequency.
Since AEP 866 was first published in 1964, considerable data on
the atmospheric absorption of sound have been collected. Most of
these studies have indicated that, on the average, the atmospheric
absorption coefficients determined by the method described herein
are quite close to the measured values over a reasonably wide range
of air temperatures and relative humidities.
The purpose of this reissue of ARP 866 is to describe a
mathematical procedure for determining atmospheric absorption
coefficients that is suitable for use with machine computation
techniques. Use of the mathematical representations of the various
curves involved in the calculation routine should improve the
precision and repeatability of determining atmospheric absorption
coefficients. The calculation procedure is used to determine
atmospheric absorption coefficients for 1/1- and 1/3 – octave bands
of noise, for air temperatures ranging from 1 to 100 °F and
relative humidities from 1 to 100 percent. The calculated
coefficients are presented in tabular and graphical forms. The
tabulated coefficients provide a convenient method of reading all
1/1 – or 1/3 – octave band coefficients on one page for a variety
of temperatures for a improved legibility and for easy
comprehension of the dependence of the absorption coefficients on
frequency, temperature, and humidity.