Product Description

This definitive textbook provides students with a comprehensive introduction to acoustics. Beginning with the basic physical ideas, Acoustics balances the fundamentals with engineering aspects, applications and electroacoustics, also covering music, speech and the properties of human hearing. The concepts of acoustics are exposed and applied in:

• room acoustics
• sound insulation in buildings
• noise control
• underwater sound and ultrasound.

Scientifically thorough, but with mathematics kept to a minimum, Acoustics is the perfect introduction to acoustics for students at any level of mechanical, electrical or civil engineering courses and an accessible resource for architects, musicians or sound engineers requiring a technical understanding of acoustics and their applications.

Customer Reviews (4)

Allan D. Pierce Acoustics Book
Book was in the condition as listed on the website and the only downside was that I couldn't have it rushed for delivery. Second book I bought from this seller. Both times were excellent.

Good book
This book was used as a text book for one of our courses duringmy masters. In my opinion it is one of the classic books available in acoustics. If you want to learn fundamentals and to know "why" for any acoustical phenomena, then this book is for you. If you are looking for an applied (engineering) kind of book, then this book is not for you. The author gives a clear and concise approach to the acoustics problem formulations. The end of chapter excercises are very helpful(some problems require references to current journal literature for detailed formulation).

Clearly this is the book to learn physical pricnciples from. I wish the author would have added a topic on acoustic analogies in aeroacoustics.

Ausgezeichnet
Das Buch ist wunderbar. Herr Doktor Pierce hat ein ausgezeichnet Buch doch geschrieben.

A Deep and Classic Approach to Acoustics
Texts on acoustics approach the subject from many differentangles and at many different levels. Pierce's text is classic, rigorous and complete. It should serve the needs of serious students of acoustics for a variety of purposes - musical acoustics and sound are my particular perspective.

Some writers cater their approach to electrical engineers or to mechanical engineers, assuming that by tieing everything to those disciplines they will make the effort easier for their readers. This may serve well those who come from those disciplines, but may not serve others well and may not serve all applications of acoustics equally well either. Pierce does not do so. His approach is rigorously mathematical and pure, going to the heart of the matter, rather than one of attempting to cut corners by making analogies to other fields that you may or may not know.

The book is not for the faint of heart or the mildly curious, it is deep and demanding. But he organizes it superbly and writes intelligently with a wonderful way of integrating the history and development of the science, and the graphics are exceptionally clear and communicative.

Highly recommended for the very serious about this subject. My favorite among the books I have consulted. ... Read more

Product Description
Intended a both a textbook and a reference, Fourier Acoustics develops the theory of sound radiation uniquely from the viewpoint of Fourier Analysis.This powerful perspective of sound radiation provides the reader with a comprehensive and practical understanding which will enable him or her to diagnose and solve sound and vibration problems in the 21st Century.As a result of this perspective, Fourier Acoustics is able to present thoroughly and simply, for the first time in book form, the theory of nearfield acoustical holography, an important technique which has revolutionised the measurement of sound.Relying little on material outside the book, Fourier Acoustics will be invaluable as a graduate level text as well as a reference for researchers in academia and industry.

Key Features
* The physics of wave propogation and sound vibration in homogeneous media
*Acoustics, such as radiation of sound, and radiation from vibrating surfaces
*Inverse problems, such as the theory of nearfield acoustical holography
*Mathematics of specialized functions, such as spherical harmonics ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must-have one
This is a "must have" book for everyone who deals with acoustic radiation.The treatment of nearfield acoustic holography was scattered all over the scientific literature about acoustics.Now one has a reference point, where all the main aspects of the subject are dealt with in a clear, didactic way.The chapters are very well organized, containing an introduction on the basic aspects of signal processing and leading naturally to a good understanding of the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Acoustics and Psychoacoustics is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording, traditional music and acoustics, as well as engineers studying audio, multimedia and communications systems. Gain a practical understanding of how real musical sounds behave and are perceived in real spaces with this accessible and interesting read.

This third edition offers a CD of audio examples, crucial for a clear understanding of the concepts discussed.

Visit the book's supporting website athttp://books.elsevier.com/0240519957 for additional resources such as:
* Questions and exercises to test your knowledge
* Web links for further resources and research
* Audio clips
* Calculation facilities (eg. adding decibel values and converting between frequency ratio and cents/semitones)
This website can also be reached via www.focalpress.com

* A broad-ranging introduction to acoustics and psychoacoustics
* Gain a practical understanding of the subject with this highly accessible guide
* For a clear understanding of the concepts discussed follow the accompanying CD of audio examples ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great textbook
I'm using this for a class, and it's been a great resource. Sometimes I find it a bit dry, but I'm finding most of my sound recording and electronic music textbooks to be pretty dry. For example, Dodge & Jerse's textbook on computer synthesis is super boring.

A good, gentle introduction to acoustics
Seems to be an easier acoustics text than the classic Rossing and similar approaches. The focus is sufficiently practical to bring in generalist or the technician who wants to understand a bit more, but also sufficiently deep to satisfy anyone other than a physicist. But they'd just add another book on, and be happy as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Examines the principles of sound through simple experiments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

practical and easy to use
There are several books in this set; they are so practical and easy to use.No previous science knowledge is necessary; you learn as you do it.Supplies are easily found around the house.These books are fun, and you can't help learning. ... Read more

Product Description
Applications of some selected soft computing methods to acoustics and sound engineering are presented in this book. The aim of this research study is the implementation of soft computing methods to musical signal analysis and to the recognition of musical sounds and phrases. Accordingly, some methods based on such learning algorithms as neural networks, rough sets and fuzzy-logic were conceived, implemented and tested. Additionally, the above-mentioned methods were applied to the analysis and verification of subjective testing results. The last problem discussed within the framework of this book was the problem of fuzzy control of the classical pipe organ instrument. The obtained results show that computational intelligence and soft computing may be used for solving some vital problems in both musical and architectural acoustics. ... Read more

Product Description
Foundations of Engineering Acoustics takes the reader on a journey from a qualitative introduction to the physical nature of sound, explained in terms of common experience, to mathematical models and analytical results which underlie the techniques applied by the engineering industry to improve the acoustic performance of their products. The book is distinguished by extensive descriptions and explanations of audio-frequency acoustic phenomena and their relevance to engineering, supported by a wealth of diagrams, and by a guide for teachers of tried and tested class demonstrations and laboratory-based experiments.
Foundations of Engineering Acoustics is a textbook suitable for both senior undergraduate and postgraduate courses in mechanical, aerospace, marine, and possibly electrical and civil engineering schools at universities. It will be a valuable reference for academic teachers and researchers and will also assist Industrial Acoustic Group staff and Consultants.

Comprehensive and up-to-date: broad coverage, many illustrations, questions, elaborated answers, references and a bibliography
Introductory chapter on the importance of sound in technology and the role of the engineering acoustician
Deals with the fundamental concepts, principles, theories and forms of mathematical representation, rather than methodology
Frequent reference to practical applications and contemporary technology
Emphasizes qualitative, physical introductions to each principal as an entrée to mathematical analysis for the less theoretically oriented readers and courses
Provides a 'cook book' of demonstrations and laboratory-based experiments for teachers
Useful for discussing acoustical problems with non-expert clients/managers because the descriptive sections are couched in largely non-technical language and any jargon is explained
Draws on the vast pedagogic experience of the writer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Exceptionally well written, good as a supplementary text
This is Fahy's "Introductory" Acoustics text.He has several other publications in vibration and vibroacoustics (structural acoustics) that establish him as one of the more prolific current authors for acoustics curriculum.

As a graduate student, I find that Fahy's writing style really helps explain what is physically happening in basic acoustic scenarios, such as plane waves, spherical waves, scattering, refraction, reflection, sound in waveguides, sources of sound, etc.The writing is both interesting and fluent.In this manner, It is a nearly perfect companion text to other introductory texts who may favor a more equation-driven approach (such as the standards of Kinsler & Frey or Pierce).Fahy has some unique features in this book, including a list of possible experiments to demonstrate acoustic concepts (some experiments are mediocre, some are really good if you have an FFT analyzer handy).

That being said, the end-of-chapter questions are limited but thoughtful (usually fewer than 10 per chapter).There may be a slight favor towards structural acoustics rather than other fields.Notably absent are sections on hearing perception and applications in underwater acoustics. Again, no text can be perfect, but this is a great companion text to understand basic concepts in acoustics.

Useful book for practical work on vibration and acoustics
I work as acoustic consultant, primarily with noise and vibration simulation.

I recommend the book as it has helped me out on a few occasions where I needed to look into new things with which I had not previously worked. It is also useful when there is a need to reference matters you are familiar with, but want the detailed equations or the background assumptions restated.

Having to solve practical problems, I especially appreciate that the author includes references to other work and, more importantly lists `rules of thumbs' that lead to sensible designs. Such recommendations have saved valuable time and money for me.

So, the scope of the book goes beyond that of teaching. It is quite a useful book also for practical work.

'Sounds' like a winner
This textbook was helpful in communicating the basic principles of engineering acoustics.Several errors, (k^2 missing in numerator of equation 6.14, page 109) but generally a good reference when coupled with good teaching.Includes around 8-10 problems after each chapter with solutions in the back. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing a wealth of information on fundamental topics in the areas of linear air and underwater acoustics, as well as space-time signal processing, this book provides real-world design and analysis equations. As a consequence of the interdisciplinary nature of air and underwater acoustics, the book is divided into two parts: Acoustic Field Theory and Space-Time Signal Processing. It covers the fundamentals of acoustic wave propagation as well as the fundamentals of aperture theory, array theory, and signal processing. Starting with principles and using a consistent, mainly standard notation, this book develops, in detail, basic results that are useful in a variety of air and underwater acoustic applications. Numerous figures, examples, and problems are included. ... Read more

Product Description
Music and Concert Hall Acoustics examines the fundamental relationship between the music, the concert hall, and the listener. Chapters cover topics including the analysis of music signals, adjustment of music to a particular music hall, and the temporal and spatial properties of sound fields. This intriguing book also considers the fusing of acoustics and architecture, design studies of concert halls, and design studies of large acoustic spaces and electroacoustic systems, and the most suitable materials to be used in concert hall construction.
From the design and construction of the concert hall itself to individual and global subjective evaluations of sound fields, Music andConcert Hall Acoustics details exactly how each variable in a concert hall can affect a live musical performance. The excellent contributions to this book will be of interest to musically-minded electrical engineers, physicists, and anyone else working in the a field concerned with architectural acoustics.

Contributors are recognized experts in the field
Considers both acoustics and architecture
Includes analysis of music signals ... Read more

Product Description
Modern Methods in Analytical Acoustics considers topics fundamental to the understanding of noise, vibration and fluid mechanisms. The series of lectures on which this material is based began by some twenty five years ago and has been developed and expanded ever since. Acknowledged experts in the field have given this course many times in Europe and the USA. Although the scope of the course has widened considerably, the primary aim of teaching analytical techniques of acoustics alongside specific areas of wave motion and unsteady fluid mechanisms remains. The distinguished authors of this volume are drawn from Departments of Acoustics, Engineering of Applied Mathematics in Berlin, Cambridge and London. Their intention is to reach a wider audience of all those concerned with acoustic analysis than has been able to attend the course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A good starting point in acoustics
This is book presents the reader with the essential knowledge required for the understanding and study of several acoustiscal phenomena.

Starting with an introduction to basic mathematical tools - both analytical (complexvariables, fourier analysis, asymptotic analysis) and numerical (FE/BEapproaches , ray tracing).

The second part of the book is dedicated soundgeneration by unsteady sources and deals, amongst other issues, with flowand propeller/helicopter generated sound.

The third part deals with wavemodification and such topics as sound-bubble interaction and nonlinearacoustics.

To summarise, I think that this volume is a welcomed additionto the library of anyone with a serious interest in aero- or hydro-acoustics.

It is a useful tool book for someone who study acoustics.
Readers can find a lot of mathematical methods which is needed in studying acoustics. Quite useful.

It is a useful tool book for someone who study acoustics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

comprehensive, exciting, novel treatment of known ideas
strongly recommended for broad review and introduction to the subject; excellent teaching guide; can be used for a course or individually guided reading ... Read more

Product Description
Built around the common core of physics A Level syllabuses this book, which is one of a series of eight titles, covers all the compulsory content with the aim of promoting independent learning for post-16 students. ... Read more

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Proceedings of the Ferroelectrics 2002 conference held February 3-6, 2002 in Washington, DC. ... Read more

Product Description
Resonance Acoustic Spectroscopy deals with the analysis ofwaves generatedin an elastic body by a plane harmonicacoustic wave. It is the first monograph to treat newanalytical and experimental methods for theinvestigation ofthe excitation, propagation and re-radiation ofelasticwaves in solid, thick-walled and thin-walled elasticscatterers.The material is presented systematically,comprising the formulation of the problem, method ofsolution, algorithm, computation and analysis. A largenumber of computational results are given in the form ofmodalresonances, form functions, dispersion curves andacoustic spectrograms.Particular attention is paid to theinterpretation of the solutions. ... Read more

Product Description
How can a piano tuner obtain such high precision with no other measuring device than their own ears? How can a sequence of notes seem to rise continuously despite coming back periodically to the same notes? What are the possibilities and the limits of digital sound? These are a few examples of questions that are discussed in this book, which presents an overview on the nature of musical sounds, from their production by acoustic music instruments to synthesized sounds obtained with computers.
The topics that are treated include sound propagation, Fourier and time-frequency analysis, psychoacoustics, analog and digital signal processing theory, computer science and MP3 sound compression, and of course... music! ... Read more

Product Description
This conference provided a forum for active researchers todiscuss the state-of-the-art in theoretical and computationalacoustics. Topics covered fluid/elastic interface-theoretical andcomputational aspects with applications, seismic waves and earthquakestudies, modeling, theoretical and computational aspects formultidimensional wave propagation, methods for computationalacoustics, structural acoustics, scattering and inverse problems,solutions to acoustic problems by supercomputers and parallelprocessing, and application of neural networks to acoustics. ... Read more

Product Description
Proceedings of the International Summer School on Experimental Physics of Gravitational Waves, held in Ubrino, Italy, September 6-18, 1999. Introduces needed theoretical instruments and presents current discussion on fundamental physics, as well as an exploration of gravitational wave antennae. Many other topics are also discussed, such as optics and signal processing. ... Read more

Product Description
This unique one-volume overview of classical wave theory—ideal as a classroom text or for individual study—covers wave phenomena of acoustics, optics, electromagnetic radiations and more. Topics include fundamentals, Bessel functions, waveguides, elasticity theory, hydrodynamic waves, and special phenomenon of wave diffraction. With problems.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good unifying review book on waves
This book covers a lot of conceptual territory rather rapidly, reaching approximate analytic techniques associated with diffraction, beginning from almost first principles.To do this, the authors hurry through introductory material, and sometimes skimp on development of more complex topics.That said, the book does a good job of covering waves in the many forms they appear in physics.The book is a review.This requires the reader to be familiar with at least about half of the material in the book, or you will probably get frustrated quickly, or have to go elsewhere for more details / development.Another prerequisite for this book is mathematics through vector calculus and some exposure to advanced engineering math.

The book is originally from the 1960s; it is not the most modern or up-to-date book on waves.Despite this, the fundamentals really never change, and this book has a pretty good pedagogical side to it.I would not recommend this as a book to introduce waves with, or to use in any sort of introductory sense (possibly in conjunction with a standard textbook).I would recommend the book to be read after the details and examples of the basics have been covered.This book will help the reader to fit the ideas already learned into the larger framework of physics and waves, by introducing a few new ideas and covering previous ideas in a slightly different way.

Comparatively, the book Almost All About Waves is about equivalent to chapter 8 of this book. This book does much better introducing things deliberately and covers much more ground, and I think is therefore much more useful.

Great book after you've already learned some "physics of waves"
just few points:

(1) This is not a book for a undergrad taking any wave class for the first time
(2) It's such a great summary book for grad students who already learned waves at least once (EM/acoustic). Reading this book is such an enjoyable experience, that scattered knowledge of waves finally merges together, and different physics eventually turn out to be just some special treatment to the same wave equation (mathematically).

it's a great book for student who really want to have a profound understanding of what really wave is, but it might be a bad one if you just want to pass your exam.Physics of Waves

Great Book and Quick Delivery
The book is really great and covers all the fundamental aspects of wave prorogation in different mediums and different kind of waves.

Also delivery of the book was very quick and I got the book in a very good condition, as shown on Amazon.com during the purchase.

Confusing!
I cannot say anything good about this book except the fact that it's cheap. Even so, I think the book is not very worth the money. The notation and presentation are old and outdated. There are no example problems. The author often delves into technical details without fully introduce the concepts. This book may make a good technical reference, but it is, by no means, a good textbook that is supposed to teach students physics. As a not-so-dull physics students in Cornell (where they have been using this book for the honors wave class for years), I did not learn much physics from this book and was often left confused about what the author is trying to say.
I feel deeply sorry for Cornell students who have suffered under this book and prospective students who will be spending 4 months trying to understand this book. If you are in a physics class which uses this book, I strongly sugguest that you get a better text. Although there aren't many outstanding text on waves out there, many books are more suitable than this one, such as the one in the MIT introdctory sequence by French and Taylor.

Hit and Miss
Elmore and Heald is a very hit and miss book.The first chapter about simple transverse waves on strings is pretty good except for the confusing treatment of Fourier series (which I can't imagine would help anyone who hasn't seen them before).Chapter 3 on elastic theory was fine too and the EM waves stuff in chapter 8 wasn't bad.

However, the introduction to tensors in chapter 7 and their application to more complex elastic theory was horrible.The dyadic notation they use is really old-fashioned and their presentation is confusing.The stuff in chapter 12 on fourier transforms and integrals wasn't that great either.

More generally, the problem is that it spends too much time diving into excruciating detail without teaching and emphasizing important concepts.Not to mention the fact that there are no example problems. ... Read more