Improving Tube Sound Transmission Loss Measurements Using the Transfer Matrix Technique to Remove the Effect of Area Changes

The Sound Transmission Loss of automotive intake and exhaust components is commonly measured using the four microphone tube method per ASTM E2611 [1]. Often area adapters are used to match the component diameter to that of the tube apparatus. These area adapters affect the Sound Transmission Loss measurement, especially at very low frequencies. The use of the Transfer Matrix Technique to remove the effect of the area adapters is described. The improvements for step and cone area adapters are compared.