Predicting the sound insulation of plywood panels when treated with decoupled mass loaded barriers

The addition of mass loaded barriers can be used to improve the sound transmission loss properties of lightweight panels. Decoupling of the mass layer from the panel is achieved using a layer of open celled foam. This treatment causes the panel system to exhibit sound transmission loss behaviour that is similar to conventional double leaf walls. The effects of altering the thickness of the decoupling foam layer, the surface density of the barrier, and the attachment between the treatment and the panel were assessed experimentally. Several analytical prediction methods were combined to develop a model for the transmission loss of the treated system. The material properties of the panel and treatment were measured using static and dynamic methods. These measured values were used in the prediction methods. The prediction methods yielded a range of agreements with the experimental results. The quality of agreement was found to depend on the thickness of the foam decoupling layer, the surface density of the barrier layer and most significantly the attachment method.