Influence of errors on the two-microphone method for measuring acoustic properties in ducts
Hans U. Boden, Mats Åbom · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1986
Using the two-microphone method, acoustic properties in ducts, as, for example, reflection coefficient and acoustic impedance, can be calculated from a transfer function measurement between two microphones. In this paper, a systematic investigation of the various measurement errors that can occur and their effect on the calculated quantities is made. The input data for the calculations are the measured transfer function, the microphone separation, and the distance between one microphone and the sample. First, errors in the estimate of the transfer function are treated. Conclusions concerning the most favorable measurement configuration to avoid these errors are drawn. Next, the length measurement errors are treated. Measurements were made to study the question of microphone interference. The influence of errors on the calculated quantities has been investigated by numerical simulation. From this, conclusions are drawn on the useful frequency range for a given microphone separation and on the magnitude of errors to expect for different cases.