Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

Analysis of the Effect of Geometric Components of Domes on the Acoustic Quality of Lecture Spaces

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fereshteh Kamrani 1
Mansour Yeganeh 2
Mohammad Reza Bemanian 3
1 Department of Architecture, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
2 Associate Professor at the Faculty of Art AT Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ias.2024.391762.2282
Abstract
The geometry of roof forms has been a primary design consideration for architects throughout history. This study examines dome geometries from various perspectives to identify acoustically optimal configurations for lecture halls. Data were collected from library resources and simulated dome models, employing a hybrid methodology combining simulation and descriptive analysis. The research process involved precise algorithmic modeling of dome samples in Grasshopper software using traditional craftsmen's techniques, followed by curve-fitting calculations using matrix methods in SPSS 22. Acoustic simulations were then conducted using Odeon software. Descriptive analysis of arches utilized scatter plots, while Spearman correlation analysis in SPSS 22 examined relationships between architectural and acoustic variables. Results demonstrate that dome forms with comparable volume, surface area, height-to-span ratio, and arc length—but with gentler curve slopes—exhibit superior acoustic performance in terms of reverberation time, speech transmission index, and speech clarity.
Research Objectives

Investigate reverberation time components in various dome types based on geometric (mathematical and physical) characteristics
Examine speech transmission index and speech clarity in lecture spaces across different dome geometries

Research Questions

How do geometric and mathematical parameters of domes affect acoustic quality components in lecture halls?
How do geometric parameters influence speech transmission and clarity in lecture spaces?

 
Keywords
Dome geometry
acoustics
domed roofs
lecture spaces
sound quality

Subjects

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