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Technology / Re: Can a wall be made that blocks or absorbs sound, but not the breeze?
« on: 14/09/2020 23:18:03 »
Thanks for responding!
Yes, I've been looking at traditional methods.
They're all based on reflecting, absorbing, and as you brought up, disrupting refracted sound off the tops. All very tried and true -- I was just curious if there had been any novel but elegant solutions -- and also one that as I mentioned, allowed for the wind to pass through.
This all sounds like magic and witchcraft, but somehow intuitively I feel like it doesn't sound so far fetched. Like if you could somehow create a surface or skin through which extremely low frequencies -- like a breeze, could pass through, but higher frequencies would bounce off or be disrupted.
In another forum somewhere I read about a company that turned a window into a large noise-cancelling apparatus. Expensive, but for super super high end homes. But this doesn't need to be that way.
For example, a sheer sheet of fabric will stop a blast from a super soaker, but will let water totally soak through. Hm.
Yes, I've been looking at traditional methods.
They're all based on reflecting, absorbing, and as you brought up, disrupting refracted sound off the tops. All very tried and true -- I was just curious if there had been any novel but elegant solutions -- and also one that as I mentioned, allowed for the wind to pass through.
This all sounds like magic and witchcraft, but somehow intuitively I feel like it doesn't sound so far fetched. Like if you could somehow create a surface or skin through which extremely low frequencies -- like a breeze, could pass through, but higher frequencies would bounce off or be disrupted.
In another forum somewhere I read about a company that turned a window into a large noise-cancelling apparatus. Expensive, but for super super high end homes. But this doesn't need to be that way.
For example, a sheer sheet of fabric will stop a blast from a super soaker, but will let water totally soak through. Hm.
The type of wall you describe needs designing for specific sound pollution, so might not work in your case.
Hedging can work, but less so than a wall. If you build a wall you could also consider a hedge on the other side of the wall or a creeper such as ivy, both will help absorb the sound. Also low hedge plants on the top will disrupt any refracted sound.
It’s worth looking at sound disruption methods used alongside motorways eg fencing panels.
Here in the UK we have a buildings research centre which researches topics like this and give advice, do you have something similar?