Impact of Mihrab Geometry on The Acoustics of Mosque.

Mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a mihrab appears is thus the "qibla wall". Mihrab geometry has an impact on daily prayer recitation and others. This paper investigates the impact of new type of the Mihrab geometry on the acoustics of the mosque. Flat wall and 7 types of mihrab were modeled. Polar response measurements were carried out using 1:10 scale model. Sound Transmission Index had been measured. Measurements had been realized using 1:10 omni-directional sound source and Dirac room acoustics software. It is found that, the flat wall and Mihrab with trapezium shape can generate a uniform polar response over the frequency range we are interested in (250-4000 Hz). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]