• PROJECT CODE: J4-3087
• PROJECT TITLE: Engineered wood composites with enhanced impact sound insulation performance to improve human well being
• PROJECT LEADER: Andreja Kutnar, PhD
• PERIOD: 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2025
• BUDGET: €300,055.44
• FINANCING: ARRS and FWF
• COORDINATOR: InnoRenew CoE (Slovenia)
• PARTNERS: University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (Slovenia); University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (Slovenia); IBO Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology (Austria); TU Wien Technische Universität Wien (Austria)

The most promising way to limit the building industry’s negative impacts is to push the use of wood, a renewable resource capable of sequestering carbon dioxide. A common preconception is that wooden buildings suffer from low sound insulation. In wooden buildings, it is a challenge to achieve high-impact sound insulation due to the lightweight nature of the structural elements.

With this project, InnoRenew CoE will investigate the potential of a wood-based resilient layer for use in floating floors. The wood-based resilient layer will be developed based on numerical model predictions and experimental tests performed on samples to optimize the design. However, the wood-based resilient layer’s primary evaluation will take place under relevant conditions in a representative set of built environments. An important novelty of the proposed project is the evaluation of noise annoyance by jointly investigating the response to vibrations and sound stimuli, which are correlated.

InnoRenew CoE project activities

InnoRenew CoE activities include the development of wood composites for the impact sound insulation resilient layer. Its achieved performance will be tested from an acoustic point of view and perceptually evaluated by users. For this purpose, the sound field and vibrations will be reproduced in laboratory conditions using an Ambisonics reproduction system and vibration exposure device.