Resonant Hexagon Diffuser: Designing tunable acoustic surfaces by combining sound scattering and Helmholtz resonators

Published in CUMINCAD, 2022

Description:
The surge in mass timber buildings being constructed introduces unique acoustical challenges as mass timber is more permissible for sound to travel across floors, ceilings, and walls, especially for lower frequencies. In order to address these acoustical challenges, the absorption qualities of Helmholtz resonators and surface diffusion of scattering surfaces are leveraged by combining the two systems in an integrated structure using the tectonics of mass timber construction. This paper investigates the potential of Helmholtz resonators to be used in combination with sound scattering surfaces to achieve optimal performance in cross laminated timber (CLT) panels through the use of a hexagonal pattern as the underlying design strategy.

















Client: University of Toronto John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture
Funding: CNational Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Element 5
Location: One Spadina Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 2J5
Collaborators: Philipp Cop, Nicholas Hoban, Brady peters, Ted Kesik
Photographs: John Nguyen, Edward Widjaja, Ross Cocks, and Nermine Hassanin

Recommended citation: J. Nguyen, P. Cop, N. Hoban, B. Peters, T. Kesik, "Resonant Hexagon Diffuser: Designing tunable acoustic surfaces by combining sound scattering and Helmholtz resonators," in Proceedings of ACADIA 2022 - Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, pp.546-557. ISBN 979-8-9860805-8-1