Auditory Perception of Sounds Radiated by a Fluid-Loaded Vibrating Plate Excited by a Transient Point Force

Author： Canévet Georges Habault Dominique Meunier Sabine Demirdjian Florence

ISSN： 1610-1928

Source： Acta Acustica united with Acustica, Vol.90, Iss.1, 2004-01, pp. : 181-193

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Abstract

This study concerns the auditory properties and quality of sounds generated by the vibrations of a fluid-loaded plate, excited by a transient point force. Vibroacoustic and psychoacoustic tools are combined to examine how mechanical, acoustical and auditory parameters interact to shape the perception of the sounds. The method of resonance modes in time domain and a Rayleigh-Kirchhoff formula are used to calculate the vibrations in the plate and the radiated acoustic field. A series of waveforms are computed for various combinations of three particular parameters of the problem: the structural damping, the impact point of excitation and its duration. A series of 17 sounds are synthesized, corresponding to various combinations of these three parameters. A dissimilarity test is run, to determine the auditory space in which these sounds are perceived. Three main dimensions of this space are identified by use of acoustic and psychoacoustic properties of the sounds, essentially time-frequency patterns and time course of specific loudness. These dimensions are based respectively on the damping in the structure, the tonal character (tonalness) of the sounds and their sharpness at onset. Perceived damping and global quality of the sounds were also evaluated by magnitude estimation: Perceived damping is linearly related to the time decay of sound pressure level; quality is correlated with structural damping and tonalness.