Abstract
This paper discusses the concept of the reverberation radius, also known
as critical distance, in rooms with non-uniformly distributed sound
absorption. The reverberation radius is the distance from a sound source
at which the direct sound level equals the reflected sound level. The
currently used formulas to calculate the reverberation radius have been
derived by the classic theories of Sabine or Eyring. However, these
theories are only valid in perfectly diffused sound fields; thus, only
when the energy density is constant throughout a room. Nevertheless, the
generally used formulas for the reverberation radius have been used in any
circumstance. Starting from theories for determining the reverberation
time in non- diffuse sound fields, this paper firstly proposes a new
formula to calculate the reverberation radius in rooms with non-uniformly
distributed sound absorption. Then, a comparison between the classic
formulas and the new one is performed in some rectangular rooms with
non-uniformly distributed sound absorption. Finally, this paper introduces
a new interpretation of the reverberation radius in non-diffuse sound
fields. According to this interpretation, the time corresponding to the
sound to travel a reverberation radius should be assumed as the lower
limit of integration of the diffuse sound energy
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