Acoustic Lab
During the Summer of 2006 the Acoustics Laboratory was completely renovated. Walls were torn down and the space was more than doubled. The renovation included new carpet, new ceiling panels and new lights. Other improvements include new Sonex® acoustic foam panels for the walls, a separate enclosed and isolated anechoic room, and more space for student project areas and computer workstations.
After the Renovation
Before and During the Renovation Photos
A Panoramic view of the new acoustics lab.
Enlargement
From left to right: the student computer lab area (computers coming soon!), the new isolated and enclosed anechoic chamber, student research space, Dr. Ludwigsen's research computer and workbench, Dr. Russell's softball bat research center, and the classroom/conference area.
Student Work Areas
This photo shows the student research areas. The U-shaped table is where small class meetings are held, research projects are discussed, or temporary experimental projects are setup. The work bench behind the tables is used for student research projects. The area in the far right (where the trombone is located) is another student project area. 
This photo shows the computer workstation and project area. The computers aren't here yet, but there will soon be five work stations where students can analyze recorded sound and vibration files, use LabView to interface with acoustic transducers, and control experiments in the adjacent anechoic room. (Back to Top)
Dr. Ludwigsen's Research Area
Dr. Ludwigsen has a number of ongoing research projects involving the acoustics of musical instruments (trombone, kalimba, and djembe) as well as sound localization, and computational modeling of acoustic problems. His computer workstation has software for analyzing & editing sound files with high-end monitor speakers, the latest version of LabView, as well as a powerful Finite Element Analysis software package for computational modeling of acoustic and vibration problems. One or two students work with Dr. Ludwigsen on various projects every term.
One of these faculty/student research project is an investigation into the acoustic behavior of bottles (officially known as "Helmholtz resonators") and the influence of shape on the sounds and frequency spectra they produce. (Back to Top)
Dr. Russell's Softball Bat Research Area
Dr. Russell has an active research program investigating the acoustic and vibrational characteristics of aluminum and composite softball and baseball bats. His current project, funded jointly by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and several bat manufacturers, attempts to correlate the acoustic and vibrational signature of a bat with its performance in the hands of a player. This lab area includes a setup for doing experimental modal analysis to obtain the vibrational mode shapes and frequencies of a vibrating object, and various other acoustic and vibration tests. During the last two years 
several students have assisted with Dr. Russell's bat research, as well as with other projects involving the vibration of acoustic and electric guitars, sound radiation from tuning forks and loudspeaker arrays, and room acoustics.
In the foreground of this picture you can see some Harley-Davidson motorcycle mufflers and a thermoacoustic refrigerator demonstration, both of which have been part of student research projects. (Back to Top)