Acoustic and Vibration Lab

About acoustic vibration and control

Our acoustics vibration and control research is focused on the management of sound and vibrations, including through automated control systems.

Our acoustics vibration and control researchers specialise in:

active noise and vibration control
structural health monitoring
dynamics and control
thermoacoustics
ultrasound
underwater acoustics
vibration isolation
vibro-acoustics
waves and oscillating systems.

With sound surrounding us at all times, our work is of direct benefit in virtually all fields of endeavour. Some industries for which it is especially relevant include aerospace, automotive, maritime, rail, defence, construction, manufacturing, power generation and consumer electronics.

Cutting edge facilities

Explore our advanced equipment and world-class experimental facilities, complemented by our analytical and computational tools.

Research excellence

Our team members engage in projects spanning basic to applied research. From active vibration control to new medical instruments, the latest diagnostics and novel materials development, we’re pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

Industry collaboration

We collaborate with government agencies, private companies, and industrial sponsors to address real-world challenges.

Explore acoustic vibration and control

Acoustic chambers 1
Our people 2
Consulting services and publications 3

We have three high-quality acoustic chambers available for hire, including two reverberation chambers and one anechoic chamber for facilitating sound transmission loss, sound absorption, sound power and acoustic radiation measurements. If you are interested in using this facility, please contact via our email . 

The source and receiver rooms are used for testing transmission loss. The sample is installed in a hole in the wall between the two rooms. Sound in the source room then passes through the test sample into the receiver room, where the resultant sound pressure is measured by a traversing or fixed microphone(s).

The source room’s specifications are:

Dimensions: 6.085 × 5.175 × 3.355 m

Volume: 105.6 m³

Surface Area: 138.5 m²

Opening Area: 3.607 × 3.194 m = 11.52 m²

Small Test Panel Opening: 1.000 × 1.000 m = 1.00 m²

Volume Between Chambers: 11.18 m³

Rotating Diffuser:

Hemi conical shape
2.5 m height
1.5 m diameter (top)
3.0 m diameter (bottom)
Swept volume: 10.31 m³

The receiver room is used for acoustic transmission loss, noise reduction and insertion loss testing, and to measure sound power. The room has several static diffusers and a rotating diffuser, which is used to better disperse sound in the chamber to create a uniform sound field.

The source room’s specifications are:

Dimensions: 6.840 × 5.565 × 4.720 m

Volume: 179.7 m³

Surface Area: 193.2 m² (including opening area)

Opening Area: 11.52 m²

Small Test Panel Opening: 1.000 × 1.000 m = 1.00 m²

Volume Between Chambers: 11.18 m³

Rotating Diffuser:

Hemi-cylindrical shape
2.4 m height
3.5 m diameter
Swept volume: 23.09 m³

The anechoic room is used to measure objects’ acoustic radiation patterns, and when a quiet measurement environment is required. The room can be configured to be fully anechoic or have floor plates installed to create a hemi-anechoic space.

The source room’s specifications are:

4.79 x 3.90 x 3.94 m

73.6 m3.

We have expertise across a wide range of areas. Many of our researchers are available to assist with research project supervision for Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy students.

Research team	Expertise
Professor Benjamin Cazzolato	Acoustics; Vibrations; Control and signal processing
Dr Mergen Ghayesh
Professor Carl Howard	Acoustics; Vibrations; Condition monitoring
Dr Will Robertson	Magnetic levitation; Vibration control; Biomechanics
Professor Anthony Zander	Acoustics; Vibrations
Emeritus Professor Colin Hansen	Acoustics; Vibrations

Consulting services

We offer a comprehensive range of services including testing to Australian, ISO, ASTM and MIL standards:

Airborne sound insulation testing in reverberation rooms (random incidence sound transmission loss) to AS 1191/ ISO 140 / ISO 10140
Normal incidence transmission loss testing (in an impedance tube) to ASTM E2611
Random incidence sound absorption testing (in a reverberation room) to AS ISO 354
Normal incidence sound absorption testing (in an impedance tube) to ASTM E1050 and ISO 10534-2
Static airflow resistance testing for porous materials to ASTM C522-03 and ISO 9053
Porosity and Density measurements of porous media (based on ISO 4590)
Sound power testing in a laboratory reverberation room (both direct and comparison methods) to ISO 3741
Sound power testing using sound pressure in anechoic and hemi-anechoic rooms to ISO 3745
Sound power testing using sound intensity to ISO 9614
Environmental laboratory testing to MIL-STD-810
Hydrodynamic valve noise measurement based on IEC_60534-8-2
Measurement of speed of sound in a fluid in a pipe to ISO_15086-2
Vibration testing with an LDS 721shaker, using sinusoid, random vibration, and classical shock excitations against criteria such as NASA-STD-7001B
Noise monitoring and control.
Bespoke sound and vibration measurements and analysis to suit your needs.

We have access to a range of specialist equipment and facilities, including acoustic chambers and wind tunnels. Please contact the Laboratory AVL@adelaide.edu.au, Professor Carl Howard or Professor Ben Cazzolato, for more information.

To enquire about consulting or working with us on a research project, please contact Professor Carl Howard.