Author: Duc Phuc Nguyen
Nguyen, Duc Phuc, 2019 Wind farm noise amplitude modulation and its acceptability for sleep, Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering
Terms of Use: This electronic version is (or will be) made publicly available by Flinders University in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. You may use this material for uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material and/or you believe that any material has been made available without permission of the copyright owner please contact copyright@flinders.edu.au with the details.
Wind farm noise amplitude modulation (AM) is defined as a periodic variation in
the amplitude of the noise which occurs at the blade-pass frequency, which is a
unique characteristic of the noise. This phenomenon is a source of complaints due
to its potential to cause annoyance and sleep disturbance. Here, to analyse AM,
I proposed several modifications to the algorithm developed by the UK Institute
of Acoustics, which was developed only recently and is one of the best algorithms
available to date. I then used the modified algorithm to characterise the AM
measured at several locations near South Australian wind farms. To prepare stimuli
for laboratory experiments, I used the measured AM characteristics to synthesise
AM stimuli. During the experiment, AM was also investigated in terms of its level
of acceptability for sleep. I found that AM is audible both outdoors and indoors
up to several kilometres from a wind farm. Also, AM characteristics depend on
meteorological and operating conditions. The listening test results showed that
synthesised AM stimuli are indistinguishable from measured AM samples, indicating
that using synthesised noise for laboratory studies is suitable. Furthermore, I found
that an increase in the variation in the amplitude of the noise (AM depth) at a high
level of a tone (tonal audibility) is associated with lower acceptability for sleep for
noise-sensitive individuals. Further research is needed to understand the seasonal
and diurnal characteristics of AM and its effect on annoyance and sleep disturbance.
Keywords: Wind farm noise; Amplitude modulation; Acceptability for sleep.
Subject: Engineering thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2019
School: College of Science and Engineering
Supervisor: Kristy Hansen