Abstract

Complete or partial noise enclosures are commonly used to reduce high occupational noise levels. The effectiveness of such enclosures has not, however, been adequately quantified. This project therefore developed algorithms and software, and evaluated the latter in the laboratory and in manufacturing and industrial settings. A detailed analysis of "close-fitting" enclosures was also performed.

New models of the effectiveness of complete or partial enclosures were developed. Theoretical and experimental results compared favourably.

The project produced concrete results, in the form of an enclosure design software package and a specification sheet on optimal enclosure construction techniques; both of these are currently available. These tools will help guide informed choices about the most appropriate solutions to given problems.