Acoustic Performance of Glulam Timber Houses
Glulam is an engineered wood product created using kiln-dried lumber bonded together using moisture-resistant structural adhesives to produce strong beams and columns. When used for construction projects, glulam can span greater distances than steel or concrete construction materials – making it the ideal material choice for roof trusses and other load-bearing elements.
Given that glubam and SPF are orthotropic materials, their acoustic properties vary along different directions. Multiple expressions and models have been applied to predict their transmission loss-frequency curve, and experimental results seem to match them quite closely.
1. Sound Transmission
Wood naturally allows sound waves to pass through it; however, its acoustic performance can be dramatically enhanced when coupled with porous and sound-absorbing materials. Glulam timber is an ideal material to use when combined with such elements, as it has the capacity to reduce both airborne and impact noise in buildings; additionally it is dense enough that its greater mass reduces noise transmission/absorption significantly.
Glulam’s natural wood components help insulate buildings, lowering heating and cooling costs. In addition, its production produces lower carbon emissions than steel and concrete while having less of an environmental impact than these materials. Furthermore, being made from renewable and sustainable resources makes glulam an eco-friendly building choice.
Studies on the acoustic characteristics of lightweight timber constructions have been undertaken by various research studies. These investigations include prediction models, laboratory and field measurements, finite element or computational investigations and subjective surveys. Results of these investigations reveal that glulam timber structures exhibit highly variable acoustic behavior depending on factors like structure type and dimensions; frame member placement details; moisture content within timber; as well as any connection details which affect its properties. Moisture content also plays an integral part in shaping its acoustic properties.
Studying the effects of differing thickness of Glubam on its soundproof performance, experimental results revealed that thicker specimens had superior sound insulation capabilities. A finite element model using ABAQUS was created to assess some strategies and new materials on improving Glubam’s soundproof capabilities; results of which showed that increasing thickness by 10mm yielded significant improvements in soundproof performance.
Under both absolutely dry and natural conditions, the acoustic insulation performances of thick-strip and thin-strip glubam were studied, showing their relative performances with regard to soundproofing acoustically insulating performance. Results demonstrated that moisture content has an impactful role on its insulation capabilities – higher moisture percentages having greater repercussions for performance; yet its performance can be more sensitively affected by geometry rather than moisture levels, especially around its first resonance frequency.
2. Sound Absorption
Glulam timber can be bent into any desired shape, enabling designers to construct structures not possible with other building materials. Its flexibility enables architects to craft buildings that are both beautiful and innovative while meeting structural requirements; not to mention improving sound transmission performance as well.
As opposed to conventional concrete and steel framed structures, glulam-framed buildings with ceilings made of SPF can offer significant noise-reduction benefits when compared with their concrete and steel counterparts. They boast improved transmission loss at lower frequencies as well as superior absorption at higher frequencies, leading to significant noise reduction benefits.
Thin- and thick-strip glubam and SPF were investigated for comparative purposes and their sound insulation properties measured according to the normalized frequency of transmission loss (NRT) method between 500Hz to 1000Hz. Results demonstrated that glubam provided better acoustic insulation at lower and middle frequencies than SPF; while its superior performance came through resonance effect and coincidence effect as illustrated in Fig 3. The differences were due to resonance effect and coincidence effect which is evident from their differences, as illustrated in Fig 3.
To measure the effect of moisture content on acoustic performance, both glubam and SPF were exposed to different humidity percentages for testing purposes. Results suggest that moisture percentage plays a direct role in their respective performances with lower moisture contents resulting in stronger sound reduction indexes and sound absorption coefficients than when exposed to higher moisture contents.
Glulam timber building structures are constructed from lams of wood laminated together using moisture-resistant structural adhesives to form strong, stiff and lightweight structures with similar structural performance to traditional wood-frame buildings. Unlike raw lumber, however, glulam doesn’t warp or twist easily like raw lumber does, making it suitable for long spans without fear of failure due to bending stresses; also less susceptible to moisture changes as its lumber used is dried and stabilized before fabrication.
3. Sound Reduction
Wood as a building material excels at both blocking and absorbing sound; both qualities work together seamlessly in the case of glulam, an innovative construction method made by stacking and gluing layers of lumber together into thick solid pieces that block both airborne noise (such as voices) and impact noise ( like footsteps) without echoing or distortion through vibrations from violins, guitars, drums or pianos resonating throughout the building.
Aesthetics is an oft-debated term that describes various aspects of human life, including art, architecture, and the way individuals interact. While its concept dates back millennia, its relevance continues to expand within modern society; today this word defines everything from fashion choices to food preferences.
Home design today emphasizes aesthetics like never before. From sleek modern houses to cozy cottage-style spaces, you have many options at your fingertips to achieve the home of your dreams. One such choice is glulam timber houses; an eco-friendly choice which provides beautiful yet sustainable dwelling spaces.
Glulam can be made of many wood species, with SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir), Douglas Fir, and Larch being among the more widely used varieties. As a versatile and sustainable material choice for both homes and commercial structures alike, glulam offers versatile structural designs while remaining customizable with doors, windows, or any number of additional features.
Due to being orthotropic materials, glulam and SPF’s acoustic properties vary depending on which direction one looks. Therefore, tests must be conducted from three directions in order to accurately gauge their performance. Under absolutely dry natural conditions for thick-strip glubam under absolutely dry conditions increased moisture content can increase sound insulation index while decreasing sound absorption coefficient while thin strip glubam results show no such significant change.
4. Sound Reflection
When used to construct walls and floors in a house, glulam improves acoustic performance by significantly decreasing sound transmission through its structure. Furthermore, thicker than traditional lumber pieces allow it to block airborne noise as well as vibrations from footsteps or impacts; its thermal properties also prevent energy loss through thermal bridging prevention, contributing to efficient building envelope assembly; thicker walls can even be combined with additional insulation materials to further increase acoustic performance of these homes.
Glulam’s acoustic properties depend on several factors, including frame elements, material type and connection details. Moisture content also plays a critical role in its acoustic performance by altering sound transmission and absorption at lower frequencies. Acoustic performance can be further improved using high-density panels or double-layer glued laminations; however, such methods tend to be costly.
Another factor affecting glulam’s acoustic performance is its stiffness, which can be measured through measuring its modal frequency and damping characteristics. Therefore, when selecting your supplier make sure they possess access to suitable testing equipment as well as being willing to conduct these tests on a timely basis.
As a structural timber, glulam offers not only strength, but can also be easily formed into virtually any shape or size for use in buildings. Glulam’s ability to withstand large forces and deflections over steel and concrete makes it an invaluable material option. Furthermore, being much lighter than processed woods helps lower overall building costs.
Glulam timber homes provide an eco-friendly building solution with exceptional aesthetic and acoustic performance, making an ideal space for living and working.
No matter the style or era of your project, Unit Structures has you covered for any glulam construction needs. View our gallery of projects to witness how glulam can transform a space; or reach out to us today to discover more ways this versatile and long-term material could work in your next venture!