Noise and Rustle Acoustic Comfort
topic
Acoustic comfort testing measures the sound pressure level and frequency spectrum generated when a fabric specimen is rubbed against itself or a standardised surface at defined speed and contact pressure, using a calibrated microphone in a low-background-noise chamber; psychoacoustic analysis extracts loudness, sharpness, and roughness parameters correlated with annoyance ratings.
Role
Addresses an often-neglected comfort dimension particularly relevant for outdoor shell garments, nylon sportswear, and medical workwear where fabric noise during movement can impair communication, disturb sleep, or create social discomfort for the wearer in quiet environments.