Simulation of acoustical parameters in rectangular churches

Computer simulations to predict acoustical parameters have been attracting renewed interest in recent years. This paper reports the results of computer simulations of the acoustics of box-shaped churches. Twenty-five buildings have been considered by varying the dimensional ratios between length, width and height. The study focuses on the values assumed by three acoustical parameters, the clarity, the early lateral energy fraction and the centre time, in each of the simulated buildings. The parameters of analysis allowed to evaluate the dependence between the shape of the building and its acoustics. Moreover, in each church, simulations were realized by moving the sound source in five different positions in order to investigate how the acoustics changes. Considering the trade-off among dimensional ratios of the room, volume and source position, formulae which predict acoustical parameters in box-shaped churches are presented. A first validation of these formulae has been made using measured acoustical parameters in five Italian churches.