ER1 Better acoustically performing structural connections (March 2015)

The objective of this research is to provide the design community with an inter-tenancy housing structural connection system that can achieve the structural and acoustic insulation performances required by end users and other stakeholders.

Work done:

• Structural and acoustic requirements for the connectors were determined.
• A desktop search was conducted among existing structural connection systems that are acoustically isolating. The search provided different connecting systems that can be considered for the development of a new acoustically protected connection system.
• Preliminary design concepts were developed.
• Design and prototype build of two designs, an across-plate design and a through-joist design.
• Structural and vibration transfer testing of the two designs was performed.
• A final across-plate connector, which is fixed on to the bottom plates and into the edge joists, was designed and built.
• Structural, laboratory-based testing of the final across-plate connector design was performed on individual connectors at Scion.
• Full-scale acoustic testing of the final across-plate connector was performed on a wall in the Auckland University acoustic chambers.