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Square One develop simulation and analysis tools for the design of high-performance buildings, primary of which is ECOTECT - an analysis and simulation tool for predicting how a particular building design will perform.
The Archive pages provide an impressive selection of materials dedicated to aspects of building design; of particular note are the items relating to Sound, Acoustics (including this great table of material absorption coefficients), Noise and Light. Explanations, in many cases, are accompanied by clear and attractive animations describing the phenomenon or principle in question.
Square One also provide a selection of very useful software utilities and educational simulators (freeware) including a Conversion Tool, Ruler Tool and Wave Tool.
Developed by Marshall Day Acoustics, Insul is a software package that allows users to predict the sound insulation of walls, floors, ceilings etc. Using a database of common construction materials it can - by all accounts - quickly determine the effects of changes in materials and design. Quoted accuracy figures are impressive. An evaluation copy can be downloaded here.
The video demonstrates vibration modes and their relationship with frequency. As the frequency is raised the number of modes increases and so the perceived pattern changes. The demonstrator is using salt which naturally (and conveniently for us) rests at points of pressure minima i.e. where the plate is vibrating the least. The same pattern will form for the same frequency every time. More information here
BBC R&D have produced numerous technical documents over the years - many are highly regarded. Here they provide a selection of the documents, for public interest.
Self professed headphone geeks, the company builds and supplies headphone equipment - but no ordinary equipment, no, we're looking at top of the line products. While digging around the site I found lot's of interesting bits of info including: The Psychoacoustics of Headphone Listening, A Bit About Resonance which looks at standing waves and room modes (complete with animated graphics) and So What Can I do About It?, a discussion on building your own bass trap.
By Paul Falstad, a selection of java apllets designed to help visualise concepts in physics and maths. An invaluable resource for those interested in wave motion, vibration and acoustics.
Prof. Trevor Cox explains how sound is made using high speed film as a illustrative example and looks at simple vibration and impulsive sources.
A look at the trumpet, saxophone and whoopee cushion from Prof. Trevor Cox at the University of Salford.
Studio In A Box packages from acoustic innovators RPG. The packages allow the user to address acoustical distortions within their own listening environment by choosing from a pre-fabricated design and then scaling this to suit their particular needs. Pro Audio section here . Catalogue available here
Acoustics.com - Online architectural acoustics resource. The Education page provides a number of helpful resources including Acoustics 101 which newcomers to the subject might find useful.
Acoustics.org from the Acoustical Society of America - Be sure to check the Acoustical FAQ's and Tutorials
Acoustic Education from Acoustical Solutions Inc. - Great introduction to Acoustics with brief and to-the-point definitions
Acoustics and Vibrations Animations - Really excellent animations describing a whole manner of wave characteristics by Dr. Dan Russell. This site has won awards.
Animations for Acoustics Education - By Victor Sparrow @ Penn State
Aural Architecture - Experiencing Aural Architecture. Site by Barry Blesser and Linda-Ruth Salter, authors of the excellent book Spaces Speak, Are You Listening.
Australian Acoustical Society - Features some journal teasers
Institute of Acoustics - UK IOA
Materials Library - Research in Material Science and the Sound of Materials. Very interesting
Maths, Physics and Engineering applets by Paul Falstad. Some very useful ones for visualising waves
RPG - RPG Diffusion Systems. Very interesting Research section
Sine Wave Applet - Great little applet by William Idsardi demonstrating the summing of 2 sine waves. You can adjust frequency, amplitude and phase
Sounds Amazing - Resource for AS and A level Physics students from the University of Salford. Excellent animations and video demonstrating wave characteristics and acoustics. Also make sure you check Student Resources and Sound Encyclopedia
Sound and Hearing - From HyperPhysics the link is actually part of a greater whole exploring concepts in physics. The site has won awards; users might find the linking concept more intuitive as it exhibits the interconnections between fields and phenomenon. In terms of content the sound and hearing pages are excellent!
Standing Wave: Explanation by Superposition with Reflected Wave - By Walter Fendt, this java applet clearly demonstrates how standing waves are produced
Wave Tank - Program for demonstrating a variety of acoustic phenomena. From the University of Salford. Very good indeed!