Abstract
The present study examines the effects of periodic type diffusers for producing the preferred acoustics for speech and determines the more successful configurations of sound-absorbing and diffusing treatments for achieving good acoustics in classrooms. The measurements were carried out in a 1/10 scale model classroom systematically adding diffusers to one or more of four surfaces of the room. A total of 13 combination of diffusers with absorptive treatments were investigated. Adding diffusers on the ceiling were more effective to increasing the early-arriving reflection energy($G_{50}$) than adding absorptive materials on the entire ceiling. The late arriving reflection energy($G_{late}$) was decreased with increasing amounts of diffusing treatments of upper front or rear wall and this resulted in achieving higher early-to-late ratios($G_{50}$). Adding diffusers on the upper front wall($AC_{100}DUFW_{26}$) achieved more uniform acoustical conditions over the receiver positions than adding diffusers on the upper rear wall($AC_{100}DUFW_{26}$). Adding diffusers on the ceiling and absorptive materials on the lower front wall($AC_{75}DC_{25}ALFW_{26}$) achieved better acoustical conditions than adding the absorptive materials on the entire ceiling and lower front wall($AC_{100}ALFW_{26}$).
