Acoustic modeling and analysis for a multipurpose auditorium

The architectural acoustics of the theatrical space and the acoustics of the performance are key factors in achieving optimal acoustics in theater halls. This paper addresses innovative techniques for acoustic study dedicated to theater halls. More precisely, the study of the studio hall of the Colibri Craiova Children and Youth Theater is envisaged. This hall must align with recent trends, that of becoming and transforming, in a very short time, from a theater performance hall to an audition hall for classical music, then into a hall that hosts photographic art exhibitions. To define the model of the acoustic system in a virtual space, the existing auditorium was initially scanned in three dimensions using specific hardware and the Geomagic tool. Then the resulting model was loaded into SolidWorks for further modeling. Using Computer Aided Design techniques and the finite element method, various elements such as loudspeakers and chairs are embedded in the acoustic system model to obtain a realistic representation. Then, based on the obtained model of the acoustic system, several analyses and simulations were performed in the Ansys Workbench program. The key simulation results derived in this work are as follows: combined simulation tools and techniques allowed the auditorium's realistic modelling; acoustic pressures, sound pressure levels (SPL), and frequency band SPL measurements and detailed analyses were achieved, for various configurations and frequencies; the developed models and the performed analysis are useful for the optimization of the acoustic performance. These reported results, with areas of the hall subjected to extreme variations in sound pressure, i.e., with reflection and absorption problems, obtained through simulation, allow the practical implementation of acoustic optimization in other similar halls.