Preface

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Since the Walsh-Healy Act of 1969 was amended to include restrictions on

the noise exposure of workers, there has been much interest and motivation

in industry to reduce noise emitted by machinery. In addition to concerns

about air and water pollution by contaminants, efforts have also been directed

toward control of environmental noise pollution.

In response to these stimuli, faculty at many engineering schools have

developed and introduced courses in noise control, usually at the senior

design level. It is generally much more effective to design ‘‘quietness’’ into

a product than to try to ‘‘fix’’ the noise problem in the field after the product

has been put on the market. Because of this, many engineering designs in

industry take into account the noise levels generated by a system.

Industrial Noise Control and Acoustics was developed as a result of

my 30 years of experience teaching senior-level undergraduate mechanical

engineering courses in noise control, directing graduate student research

projects, teaching continuing education courses on industrial noise control

to practicing engineers, and consulting on various industrial projects in

noise assessment and abatement. The book reflects this background,

including problems for engineering students to gain experience in applying

the principles presented in the text, and examples for practicing engineers

to illustrate the material. Several engineering case studies are included to

illustrate practical solutions of noise problems in industry. This book is

Copyright © 2003 Marcel Dekker, Inc.

designed to integrate the theory of acoustics with the practice of noise

control engineering.

I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to those students

in my classes who asked questions and made suggestions that helped make

the text more clear and understandable. My most heartfelt thanks are

reserved for my wife, Shirley, for her support and encouragement during

the months of book preparation, and especially during the years before I

even considered writing this book.

Randall F. Barron

Copyright © 2003 Marcel Dekker, Inc.

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