Reception plate method for characterisation of structure-borne sound sources in buildings: Assumptions and application

A method for characterisation of structure-borne sound sources is proposed and investigated for the special but common case of machines in heavy-weight homogeneous building structures. The method is based on the concept of the reception plate where the total structure-borne sound power from the machine under test is assumed equal to the power dissipated by a plate attached to the machine. The method is relatively simple and allows comparison of sources on a power basis, and of tests results at different laboratories. Additionally the data obtained is in a form suitable for transformation into an installed structure-borne power and thence for the resultant sound pressure generated in buildings. The method is validated by cross-spectral and mobility methods. A study of the uncertainty of the power estimate was performed by numerical modelling and measurement.