Acoustics, Noise, and Vibration Research Area - Ray W. Herrick Laboratories - Purdue University

Everyone needs some peace and quiet.

Researchers at Herrick study how everyday things make noise -- cars, computer fans, industrial equipment, building ventilation, etc.  Precise measurements allow for experiments in reducing unwanted noise, making life more pleasant for everyone.  These facilities include:  

• Fully anechoic room (12' x 12' x 12')
• Reverberation room (25' x 20' x 18')
• Hemi anechoic room (41' x 27' x 18')
• Audiometric room for sound quality testing (8' x 8')
• Acoustical materials laboratory with several types of impedance tubes
• Tire pavement test apparatus (TPTA) for measuring tire noise on realistic pavements at speeds up to 50 km/h
• Two-wheel chassis dynamometer with 67 inch rollers
• Anechoic wind tunnel with 18 by 24 inch test section and flow velocity up 120 mph
• 64-microphone acoustical holography array and 90 channel data acquisition system
• Various microphones, accelerometers, shakers, a laser vibrometer, high speed camera

The future

While this research dovetails nicely with the work being done in the Vibration Lab and the Perception-Based Engineering Lab, most of the acoustics facilities are housed in Herrick's original 1920s-era horse barn.  Phase II of Herrick's expansion will bring the acoustics wing into the new building, with brand new custom-designed sound-testing facilities.  Want to get involved?  Find out more here.