Modeling and accuracy of sound field analysis by finite element method on building environments

A practical way to estimate the accuracy of sound field analysis by the finite element method in building environments is presented here. The error characteristics curves of several acoustic finite elements are proposed first, then a guideline is given for the 27-node acoustic finite element, developed by the authors, to be employed in the analysis where high accuracy is required. With the issue, sound fields in a reverberation room (179m3) with several absorbent conditions are analyzed by the method to be compared with the measured values, which showed fair agreement. In the process two ways of absorption modeling are compared.