Applied Physics Acoustics Laboratory


Acoustics Laboratory

Acoustics Laboratory

The recently renovated Acoustics Laboratory is used for faculty/student research and class experiments for our upper level Acoustics Measurements course.  The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art testing apparatus including

  • Four 2-channel FFT analyzers
  • Binaural head
  • Modal Analysis
  • Microphones, Accelerometers
  • LabView, Mathematica, Matlab
  • More

Dr. Ludwigsen's Research Area

Dr. Ludwigsen's Research Area Dr. Ludwigsen has a number of ongoing research projects involving the acoustics of musical instruments (trombone, kalimba, and djembe) as well as sound localization, and computational modeling of acoustic problems. His computer workstation has Helmholtz resonatorssoftware for analyzing & editing sound files with high-end monitor speakers, the latest version of LabView, as well as a powerful Finite Element Analysis software package for computational modeling of acoustic and vibration problems. One or two students work with Dr. Ludwigsen on various projects every term.

One of these faculty/student research project is an investigation into the acoustic behavior of bottles (officially known as "Helmholtz resonators") and the influence of shape on the sounds and frequency spectra they produce.

Dr. Russell's Softball Bat Research Area

Dr. Russell's Softball Bat Research Area

Dr. Russell has an active research program investigating the acoustic and vibrational characteristics of aluminum and composite softball and baseball bats. His current project, funded jointly by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and several bat manufacturers, attempts to correlate the acoustic and vibrational signature of a bat with its performance in the hands of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle mufflersplayer. This lab area includes a setup for doing experimental modal analysis to obtain the vibrational mode shapes and frequencies of a vibrating object, and various other acoustic and vibration tests. During the last two years several students have assisted with Dr. Russell's bat research, as well as with other projects involving the vibration of acoustic and electric guitars, sound radiation from tuning forks and loudspeaker arrays, and room acoustics.

In the foreground of this picture you can see some Harley-Davidson motorcycle mufflers and a thermoacoustic refrigerator demonstration, both of which have been part of student research projects.

More information about the renovation.