Speaker
Description
The architectural and acoustic designs of concert halls influence their overall appearance and aesthetic appeal. However, it can be challenging to achieve both visual appeal and acoustic excellence. Concert halls are often categorized as vineyard or shoebox types, which are specified by the relationship between the orchestra and the audience, the surrounding surfaces, and the general shape of the space. In contrast, ceiling shapes can vary independently of typology and range from horizontal to curved to tilted.This paper examines how ceiling geometry affects the spatial and temporal distribution of sound energy to listeners in concert halls. A parametric study is presented in which the shape, height, and surface properties of the ceiling are varied using the ray tracing tool misuka, which was developed at TU Berlin. Substantial differences in sound energy decay were found when comparing non-flat (e.g., pyramidal) and flat ceilings, depending on their surface structure. Conversely, only minor changes were observed in established sound strength parameters. Furthermore, changes in spatio-temporal sound energy incidence are discussed.