Dataset from Impact sound reduction of pavements with sand underlayer through vibrations

This study evaluates the applicability of the simplified vibration method (ISO 16251-1) for assessing the impact sound reduction of ceramic pavements installed on sand underlayers, comparing it to the standard two-room laboratory method (ISO 10140-5). Three types of sand (clayey, river, and a 50/50 mixture) at three thicknesses (3, 5, and 7 cm) were tested. Results show that while the weighted reduction in impact sound pressure level ($\Delta L_w$) obtained from both methods is closely aligned, with a maximum deviation of 2 dB, notable spectral discrepancies exist. The vibration method yields higher noise reduction values at specific low frequencies (80 and 400 Hz), while greater differences appear above 800 Hz, particularly for river sand and thinner layers. Statistical analysis of variance confirms that the measurement standard is a significant factor at certain frequencies, with its influence being comparable to or less than that of sand type and layer thickness in different frequency ranges. The findings suggest that the compact vibration method can provide a reliable estimate of the global acoustic performance for this granular system, especially for mixed sands and thicker layers, but caution is advised for detailed spectral analysis due to systematic deviations at particular frequencies.