This test method covers the use of an impedance tube, two microphone locations and a digital frequency analysis system for the determination of the sound absorption coefficient of sound absorbers for normal sound incidence. It can also be applied for the determination of the acoustical surface impedance or surface admittance of sound absorbing materials. Since the impedance ratios of a sound absorptive material are related to its physical properties, such as airflow resistance, porosity, elasticity and density, measurements described in this test method are useful in basic research and product development.
The test method is similar to the test method specified in ISO 10534-1 in that it uses an impedance tube with a sound source connected to one end and the test sample mounted in the tube at the other end. However, the measurement technique is different. In this test method, plane waves are generated in a tube by a noise source, and the decomposition of the interference field is achieved by the measurement of acoustic pressures at two fixed locations using wall-mounted microphones or an in-tube traversing microphone, and subsequent calculation of the complex acoustic transfer function, the normal incidence absorption and the impedance ratios of the acoustic material. The test method is intended to provide an alternative, and generally much faster, measurement technique than that of ISO 10534-1.