Microphone array method for the reliable experimental characterization of sound sources for noise control

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ennes Sarradj
• Subject Area: Acoustics
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 254799420

The comprehensive and reliable characterization of sound sources is of great importance in the development of noise control techniques that focus on the sound sources and aim to prevent the generation of disturbing sound. A tool that is frequently employed for that characterization is the parallel application of multiple microphones (microphone array) in combination with appropriate processing methods. In principle, this enables the information on the location, strength and directivity of multiple sources and on the coherence of their signals to be obtained at the same time. However, the different processing methods that are currently applied have a number of limitations. No method does provide all of the necessary information. Moreover, in practical applications the results of the different methods deviate and are therefore of limited value. Thus, the basic objective of this research project is a contribution to the reliable experimental characterization of sound sources using microphone arrays. To this end, three different approaches are to be pursued and novel processing methods will be elaborated. These methods are to be evaluated with the help of a Monte Carlo based procedure that will be further developed within the project. The foreseen result is a method, that is validated both theoretically and experimentally and is able to deliver information about the three-dimensional spatial distribution of sound sources and enables the simultaneous, frequency-dependent measurement of their strength, directivity and coherence while also providing information about the reliability of the results.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants