C haptEr 9 design Environments and systems
372
cally either good or bad. Appropriate values are context dependent.
What designers want is to be able to exhibit precise control over
these many factors so that the overall design can be optimized.
applications of nanomaterials in
sound Environments
As discussed in the previous section, there is great diversity in
designing for sound control and acoustical performance. It is thus
not easy to describe specific material property needs that might be
addressed via the use of nanomaterials or nanotechnologies. Only
with fairly simple or well-defined objective—for example, to create
an anechoic test box or to isolate specialized rooms from external
sound—are needs well defined. Dealing with transmitted noises
requires different strategies than dealing with structure-borne or
impact sounds. In more complex design cases, as in the acoustic
design of a space for music or speech, the situation is even considerably more complex because of the geometry of the space and the
fact that multiple hearers need to be considered.
In the previous section, we identified two fundamental types of
needs: to be able to mitigate noise and, conversely, to enhance sound
quality. On first glance, the success of nano-based advancements in
other fields (such as lighting, thermal, and electrical) would seem to
suggest that the path is open for similar rapid and across-the-board
advancements in relation to sound environments. Overall advances
here based on the use of nanomaterials, however, have been relatively slow. There are fewer ways in which nano-based approaches
can radically alter the basic sound-related properties of materials.
There are exceptions and applications, to be sure, but most attention is directed toward extremely active electronically controlled
small devices for sound emanation or acoustical damping rather
than larger passive applications, such as sound absorption, associated with acoustical design in big components in buildings or
properties.
manipulating properties
In many nanomaterial applications, the direct enhancement of specific strength, thermal, optical, or electrical properties made possible
through the use of nanomaterials leads to obvious and immediate
applications. This is simply less so with respect to large-scale components used for sound mitigation. There are some applications for
small-scale components.
372
cally either good or bad. Appropriate values are context dependent.
What designers want is to be able to exhibit precise control over
these many factors so that the overall design can be optimized.
applications of nanomaterials in
sound Environments
As discussed in the previous section, there is great diversity in
designing for sound control and acoustical performance. It is thus
not easy to describe specific material property needs that might be
addressed via the use of nanomaterials or nanotechnologies. Only
with fairly simple or well-defined objective—for example, to create
an anechoic test box or to isolate specialized rooms from external
sound—are needs well defined. Dealing with transmitted noises
requires different strategies than dealing with structure-borne or
impact sounds. In more complex design cases, as in the acoustic
design of a space for music or speech, the situation is even considerably more complex because of the geometry of the space and the
fact that multiple hearers need to be considered.
In the previous section, we identified two fundamental types of
needs: to be able to mitigate noise and, conversely, to enhance sound
quality. On first glance, the success of nano-based advancements in
other fields (such as lighting, thermal, and electrical) would seem to
suggest that the path is open for similar rapid and across-the-board
advancements in relation to sound environments. Overall advances
here based on the use of nanomaterials, however, have been relatively slow. There are fewer ways in which nano-based approaches
can radically alter the basic sound-related properties of materials.
There are exceptions and applications, to be sure, but most attention is directed toward extremely active electronically controlled
small devices for sound emanation or acoustical damping rather
than larger passive applications, such as sound absorption, associated with acoustical design in big components in buildings or
properties.
manipulating properties
In many nanomaterial applications, the direct enhancement of specific strength, thermal, optical, or electrical properties made possible
through the use of nanomaterials leads to obvious and immediate
applications. This is simply less so with respect to large-scale components used for sound mitigation. There are some applications for
small-scale components.