ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the transmission of airborne sound through structures such as walls. It reviews the development of sound transmission theories, and assesses statistical energy analysis theory recently developed to study sound transmission through single and double partitions, including those with connections. The chapter also discusses measurements of sound transmission of practical structures and how measurements can be compared with theoretical predictions. It explains methods of rating the performance of partitions in which single numbers are assigned to the transmission loss of a partition. The chapter explores flanking of a partition through air leaks, structural bridges between partitions, and through surrounding walls in buildings. It studies the special case of transmission through enclosures where the source cannot be considered small compared with the enclosure dimensions. The transmission of sound through pipe walls cannot be treated with conventional theories, and the chapter examines this problem. The chapter reviews measured sound transmission loss data, cost data, and do's and don'ts for practical structures.
