Directional accuracy of transient sound employing an intensity probe

Sound intensity is a vector of the energy transport in a sound field. Intensity measurements have been applied throughout the 1980s and 1990s and have proven to be valuable in describing complex sound fields. Yet the technique is seldom utilized in transient measurements evaluated from pressure impulse responses particularly in objective room-acoustic evaluations where it offers significantly more information compared to the usual pressure level measurements. This work describes an experimental investigation into the accuracy and precautions necessary when employing sound intensity to obtain spatial acoustic information in an enclosure for acoustical quality evaluation and diagnosis. The experimental approach and data processing are described and results discussed.