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The method for calculating airborne sound insulation between apartments as specified in DIN EN 12354-1:2000 has been used for many years - and is increasingly being used - in architectural design. This article will give a short overview of the basic principles of this calculation method, highlighting some special aspects, and will then focus on its application in practice. In particular, the experience gained with the KS Schallschutzrechner software (calculator for the prediction of sound insulation between dwellings and terraced houses ), which has now been in use for twelve years, demonstrates that - in spite of the improved prognostic accuracy - the method is not more labour-intensive than that of the previous procedure specified in DIN 4109 Supplement 1, provided suitable design aids are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A large retaining wall (appr. 9 m high and 286 m long) of a former coal mine has been investigated using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), with two low frequency antennas (200 and 400 MHz), and Large Aperture UltraSound (LAUS) to gather information about the condition and inner structure of the wall. Three vertical lines were selected in representative areas of the wall to evaluate the usefulness of Non‐Destructive Testing (NDT) with these two methods. The LAUS results showed the layer structure at one line where the wall was enforced by a concrete shell and were unspecific regarding the inner structure beyond the first layer. GPR results were able to be collected much faster and showed some internal features. Penetration was limited to 2–3 m due to the high absorption in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, a new draft of a complete standard for DIN 4109 "Soundproofing in buildings" was issued in 4 parts - "Requirements", "Method of calculation", "Parts catalogue" and "Testing acoustics in buildings". It includes several increases in the requirements for protection against airborne noise and impact sound by comparison to DIN 4109:1989. The increases are based on the grades from monitored buildings of standard construction periodically noted in recent years. Significant changes are also included in Part 2 "Input data for verifying the requirements by calculation". A detailed computation of all transmission paths is carried out here, taking into account the special vibration reducing indices. For a brick wall, the specific indices for the weighted sound reduction index R'w,R are shown that arise for various formations of the joints. When compared with the calculated values according to DIN 4109:1989 there are differences of up to 10 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2006, the Chair of Structural Design at the Technical University of Dresden was commissioned by the Iranian cultural authority ICHHTO and the UNESCO to perform structural design services for the earthquake-resistant repair and rebuilding of the Sistani House in the historic citadel Arg-e-Bam in the south of Iran. The citadel was until its almost complete destruction by an earthquake on 26 Dezember 2003 the largest building of unburnt brick masonry in the world and is listed as a World heritage Site by UNESCO because of its cultural and historical significance. Surveying and documentation work, archaeological rubble clearance and the rebuilding of the Sistani House after its destruction by the earthquake have taken the team from the department to Bam at regular intervals since 2006. In the course of the work, it became apparent that research was needed in the field of the repair of earthquake-damaged unburnt brick masonry and into the improvement of the shear strength/earthquake resistance and the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry. The article is subdivided in Part 1, Introduction, test performance and assessment of results for additives to loam render [14] as well as Part 2, Assessment of the results for surface treatment to unburnt bricks and the climatic chamber tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2006, the Chair of Structural Design at the Technical University of Dresden was commissioned by the Iranian cultural authority ICHHTO and the UNESCO to perform structural design services for the earthquake-resistant repair and rebuilding of the Sistani House in the historic citadel Arg-e-Bam in the south of Iran. The citadel was until its almost complete destruction by an earthquake on 26 Dezember 2003 the largest building of unburnt brick masonry in the world and is listed as a World heritage Site by UNESCO because of its cultural and historical significance. Surveying and documentation work, archaeological rubble clearance and the rebuilding of the Sistani House after its destruction by the earthquake have taken the team from the department to Bam at regular intervals since 2006. In the course of the work, it became apparent that research was needed in the field of the repair of earthquake-damaged unburnt brick masonry and into the improvement of the shear strength/earthquake resistance and the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry. The article is subdivided in Part 1, Introduction, test performance and assessment of results for additives to loam render as well as Part 2, Assessment of the results for surface treatment to unburnt bricks and the climatic chamber tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]