MODELLING AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH OF THE SOUND-INSULATING CAPACITY OF ENCLOSING STRUCTURES MADE OF HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCKS

Abstract

Hollow concrete blocks are a promising material for the structure enclosing elements. They outperform traditional solid blocks in concrete mix consumption, strength retention, unit load of the supporting structure, faster modular installation, low cost, and reduced construction time, which are further regulated by Russian Construction Standards (SNiP) and Rules (SP), unlike foreign prototypes. The main disadvantage of hollow concrete blocks is the reduced heat resistance and noise protection of the premises, which inevitably leads to enriching the chemical composition of the concrete mix with special organic additives by 2–3%, using additional insulation materials and methods based on modern Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. The paper deals with the results of BIM of hollow blocks which require experimental confirmation. The experiment aims to check how well hollow concrete blocks insulate sound. A specialised research laboratory with acoustic chambers at Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University is used for this purpose. The tests result in an analytical assessment of the statistical data compared with noise protection standards. The experimental studies prove that the sound insulation of hollow concrete block enclosures complies with Russian SNiP and SP standards. The results can be applied in BIM and construction practice.