A review of commonly used analytical and empirical formulae for predicting sound diffracted by a thin screen

This paper reviews some useful analytical and empirical formulae that are used for the calculation of sound diffracted by a barrier. A brief historic overview of the study of spherical waves diffracted by a rigid half plane is presented also. The physical principles of sound diffraction by a thin plane are explained. The mathematical expressions are cast in a convenient form for ease of numerical implementation. Accurate analytical solutions are expressed in terms of standard mathematical functions that can be computed readily. Among the approximate solutions quoted, quite a few empirical formulations are adequate for most engineering purposes. The information presented in this paper should also be helpful for those who are interested in the study of sound diffracted by a barrier in a room or in a long industrial space.