Resources

"Show your scattering coefficients", paper at the 183rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Nashville, Tennessee, 5-9 December 2022.

Link to the paper in the AIP online library. 

Michael Vorlaender
Institute of Hearing Technology and Acoustics, RWTH Aachen University: Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, GERMANY

Stefan Feistel
AFMG Technologies, Berlin, GERMANY

Abstract
Absorption and scattering coefficients of surfaces are crucial components of room-acoustic simulations. The random-incidence scattering coefficient is the most uncertain metric applied in geometrical acoustics. Databases of scattering coefficients are rare. Their impact on auditory perception in auralizations, however, is relatively well studied. Research directions in developing improved scattering metrics can focus on their relevance for auditory effects, their influence on the spatial sound energy flow, their characterization in angular decomposition, and their estimation with simple rules of thumb. The paper will highlight the state of the art in determining and using scattering coefficients, and it will discuss possible improvements. 

Practical benefits
The paper shows how to improve the accuracy of room acoustic studies and simulations. It is very common that certain surfaces and structures in the room obviously cause some degree of sound scattering, but the scattering coefficients are the data that is rarely available. This is where the above research comes in handy and serves well for all kinds of acoustic simulation work. It provides a quick way to estimate your scattering coefficients for a specific area, shape, material, or even the entire room as an average. This paper also shows the background of the default S-Curve scattering setting in the AURA simulation module of EASE.