Title: A review of the metal stud stiffness on the sound insulation of gypsum-board partitions

Author(s): GU Qiangguo; WANG Jiqing;

Affiliation(s): Shanghai Construction Design and Research Institute; Institute of Acoustics, Tongji University

Abstract: For the sound insulation of a double-panel partition, the stud between two leaves creates a vibration transmission path, which can often be more critical and more important in the mid-frequency range than the airborne path through the cavity. Owing to the fact that partitions with light-weight steel studs are commonly used in building construction, studies on the sound insulation effect of such studs have been conducted. Especially, a model, initiated by Gu and Wang (1983), has been widely studied during the past decades. In the model, the steel stud is considered as an elastic spring with its cross-section stiffness in the sound insulation index prediction of such a partition. Experimental results of different stud profiles have been reported from different testing laboratories and more information has been gained to understand the stiffness effect of the stud on the sound insulation of the double-leaf partitions. In this paper, the authors have given this subject a thorough review and have concluded that a critical problem needs further investigation on the determination of the stiffness of the connecting elements in the double-leaf partitions.