Noise in heavy goods vehicles

Data are given of noise spectra obtained in the cabs of new, and in-service, heavy goods vehicles having gross vehicle weights up to 40 tons. Comparisons are made between dB(A) and linear sound pressure levels under motorway conditions at 30, 40 and 50 mile/h.The emphasis has been on the collection of data, particularly in the infrasonic region, which lies in the octave bands between 2–20 Hz. The results confirm that high levels of infrasound exist in the cabs and these levels are, possibly, influenced by the ventilation of the cab and the road speed.The data obtained are discussed from the points of view of hearing hazard, impaired vigilance, and possible dangers arising from infrasound. It is concluded that in the noisier vehicles there is certainly a danger to hearing, and from available data on the effects of noise in the laboratory and in industry, there is probably some effect on vigilance. The extent of the possible hazard of infrasound is less well established and a need for further research is pointed out.     

Low frequency sound measurement in vehicles

Sound pressure level measurements in cars travelling at motorway speeds have shown that, in many cases, the overall level is very high in relation to the dB(A) and octave band levels, suggesting that much of the sound energy is in the low frequency and infrasonic regions. A technique has been developed to extend accurate octave band measurements down to the octave centred on 2 Hz. The system uses a calibrated sound level meter feeding a frequency modulation tape-recorder to record noise below 64 Hz, and an octave band analysis system to analyse the resultant tape recordings. Typical results are presented for a number of vehicles and it is found that sound pressure levels as high as 120 dB can be found in the octave bands between 2 and 16 Hz.     

Characteristics of several industrial noise environments

In order to further define in the literature the characteristics for different noise environments existing in industry over 2000 work stations in eleven different industries were investigated. The data measured included dB(A) sound levels and octave band sound pressure levels. These data are analyzed with respect to mean slope, mean slope as related to dB(A) sound level, flatness, bands of concentrated acoustic energy (or pure tones) and the correlation between the measured dB(A) sound level and that predicted by using the measured octave band sound pressure levels.     

Pure-tone pitch anomalies. II. Pitch-intensity effects and diplacusis in impaired ears

Pitch-intensity functions and psychophysical tuning curves (PTC's) were measured in ten listeners with sensorineural impairments of presumed cochlear origin. Masking patterns, frequency jnd's, diplacusis measurements, and octave adjustments were also obtained for selected conditions in selected listeners. The results showed a tendency for increased frequency jnd's and increased pitch-matching variability in frequency regions where frequency resolution, as determined by PTC Q10 estimates, was degraded. The results also showed exaggerated pitch-level effects, both in regions where frequency resolution was degraded and, in many cases, in regions where thresholds and frequency resolution were apparently normal. The usual manifestation of exaggerated pitch-level effect was an abnormally large negative pitch shift with increasing level, particularly at low frequencies. The limited data from diplacusis measurements and octave adjustments suggest that the exaggerated negative pitch shifts are the consequence of a large increase in pitch at low stimulus levels which "recruits" at higher levels. These results are difficult to explain with simple tonotopic models, or presently formulated temporal models, of pure-tone pitch encoding.     

Some effects of infrasound on task performance

Some effects of moderate levels of infrasound on the performance of a complex task have been investigated using two experimental designs. A comparison between these effects and those due to alcohol, audio frequency noise, and combinations of infrasound-alcohol and alcohol-audio frequency noise is also presented. The complex task adopted for these experiments consisted of (a) a centrally located high priority pointer following task which had to be performed continuously and (b) the response to the onset of any one of four lights two of which were situated in front of the subject and two on his periphery of vision. The task was performed over a period of 36 minutes. Our results indicate that although performance in the infrasound condition does not suffer significant decrements in either the primary task or the central and peripheral components of the secondary task, the effects through time, both within the infrasound condition and in relation to the control, produce changes which are of a different nature to those of audible noise. In audible noise performance is maintained through time, whereas with infrasound and alcohol it appears to be degraded.     

Effects of signal processing on the measurement of maximum sound pressure levels

Maximum sound pressure levels are commonly used for environmental noise and building acoustics measurements. This paper investigates the signal processing errors due to Fast or Slow time-weighting detectors when combined with octave band filters, one-third octave band filters or an A-weighting filter. For 6th order Butterworth CPB filters the inherent time delay caused by the phase response of filters is quantified using three different approaches to establish the following rules-of-thumb: (1) time-to-gradient/amplitude matching occurs when Bt ≈ 1, (2) time-to-peak matching occurs when Bt ≈ 2 and (3) time-to-settle matching occurs when Bt ≈ 4 for octave band filters, and when Bt ≈ 3 for one-third octave band filters. Four different commercially-available sound level meters are used to quantify the variation in measured maximum levels using tone bursts, half-sine pulses, ramped noise and recorded transients. Tone bursts indicate that Slow time-weighting is inappropriate for maximum level measurements due to the large bias error. The results also show that there is more variation between sound level meters when considering Fast time-weighted maximum levels in octave bands or one-third octave bands than with A-weighted levels. To reduce the variation between measurements with different sound level meters, it is proposed that limits could be prescribed on the phase response for CPB filters and A-weighting filters.     

Low frequency and infrasonic noise in transportation

Recently, there has been much interest in infrasound and the possible effects it may have on people. Many industrial, office and home environments have been surveyed and some high levels of infrasound have been found. However, there has been very little spectral data reported at infrasonic frequencies for noise inside various modes of transportation, except for cars and trucks. This paper describes the results of an experimental programme in which infrasonic levels were established inside aircraft, ships, trains and road vehicles.     

Collective bubble oscillations as a component of surf infrasound

Plunging surf is a known generator of infrasound, though the mechanisms have not been clearly identified. A model based on collective bubble oscillations created by demise of the initially entrained air pocket is examined. Computed spectra are compared to infrasound data from the island of Kauai during periods of medium, large, and extreme surf. Model results suggest that bubble oscillations generated by plunging waves are plausible generators of infrasound, and that dynamic bubble plume evolution on a temporal scale comparable to the breaking wave period may contribute to the broad spectral lobe of dominant infrasonic energy observed in measured data. Application of an inverse model has potential to characterize breaking wave size distributions, energy, and temporal changes in seafloor morphology based on remotely sensed infrasound.     

The effects of low frequency noise on people—A review

During the fast few years, the existence of high levels of man-made low frequency noise (0–100 Hz), and in particular infrasonic noise, has been reported in many environments. An effort has been made over the last decade to discover whether such high levels of low frequency noise are significant. A review of the effects of low frequency noise indicates that the effects are similar to those of higher frequency noise, that noise in the 20–100 Hz range is much more significant than infrasound at similar sound pressure levels and that the possible danger due to infrasound has been much over-rated.     

Masking effects on ABR waves I and V in infants and adults

The effects of high- and low-pass masking on waves I and V of the auditory brain stem response (ABR) were measured in normal infants who were 2-4 weeks old, and in adults. The signal was a 4-kHz tone pip presented at 86 dB peak equivalent sound-pressure level (p.e.SPL). The masking patterns were different for latency and amplitude criteria, and were also different for infants and adults. The largest difference between infants and adults was seen in the wave I data. Low-pass maskers were very disruptive of the infant wave I, while little or no effect was noted on the adult wave I. High-pass maskers were very disruptive of the adult wave I, while less of an effect was measured on the infant wave I. The wave V data were similar between groups. Cochlear regions which contribute most importantly to wave I extend up to one octave above the frequency of the signal in adults, and to one-half octave above the signal frequency in infants. The reasons for the differences found between infants and adults are uncertain. Two possible mechanisms which can explain these data are differences in peripheral auditory sensitivity, and differences in tuning characteristics of the auditory system.     

Highway traffic noise prediction using method fully compliant with ISO 9613: comparison with measurements

In this study, we introduce outdoor sound simulation that is fully compliant with ISO 9613 yet with some complementary methods that enhance its applicability; for example, calculation of sound attenuation due to undulating terrain in octave bands, geometric divergence in the near-field of the source, and short-term wind effects. Using the method, we have carried out highway traffic noise prediction and measurement for 12 sites with representative road shapes and structures. In the prediction, the sound power level for a road segment was estimated by the method suggested in ASJ Model-1998 with experimental corrections to the overall noise level and spectrum. Comparing results between predicted and measured noise levels show good correspondence at direct, diffracted and reflected sound fields within 30m from the center of the near side lane.     

Simplified hearing protector ratings—an international comparison

A computer was programmed to model the distributions of dB(A) levels reaching the ears of an imaginary workforce wearing hearing protectors selected on the basis of either octave band attenuation values or various simplified ratings in use in Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain or the U.S.A. Both multi-valued and single-valued versions of dB(A) reduction and sound level conversion ratings were considered. Ratings were compared in terms of precision and protection rate and the comparisons were replicated for different samples of noise spectra (N = 400) and hearing protectors (N = 70) to establish the generality of the conclusions. Different countries adopt different approaches to the measurement of octave band attenuation values and the consequences of these differences were investigated. All rating systems have built-in correction factors to account for hearing protector performance variability and the merits of these were determined in the light of their ultimate effects on the distribution of dB(A) levels reaching wearers' ears. It was concluded that the optimum rating is one that enables the dB(A) level reaching wearers to be estimated by subtracting a single rating value from the dB(C) level of the noise environment, the rating value to be determined for a pink noise spectrum from mean minus one standard deviation octave band attenuation values with further protection rate adjustments being achieved by the use of a constant correction factor.     

Theoretical analysis of infrasound radiation from an oscillating bridge

As a typical example of the sound radiation caused by the oscillation of a large sized structure, the infrasound radiation from a highway bridge is theoretically analyzed by applying a lifting surface technique. The relation between the bridge oscillation and the corresponding infrasound radiation is made clear quantitatively. By using measured results of the bridge oscillation due to the passage of a vehicle, the infrasound radiated from the bridge is estimated analytically. The results are compared with the measurements, and good agreement is seen. Moreover, it is shown that the reflection of sound at the ground causes both the radiation impedance of the bridge and the radiation pattern of the sound pressure to vary considerably according to the height of the bridge from the ground. Hence the height of the bridge is an important factor which controls sound pressure level (SPL) near the ground, on which the noise is actually perceived.     

Infrasound emission of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid

Data from observing the infrasound effects induced by the Chelyabinsk meteoroid impact of February 15, 2013 are presented. Similar infrasound effects registered earlier and ways of interpreting them are described. The characteristics of the infrasound station of the Institute of Solar and Terrestrial Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Irkutsk, which registered the effect of the meteoroid explosion in the atmosphere, are also described. The shape of the infrasound signal from the Chelyabinsk meteoroid is presented and its parameters are discussed.     

基于一维卷积神经网络的化爆和地震次声分类*

次声事件的分类识别方法应用广泛,传统分类方法在很多方面进行了尝试,但由于次声信号具备非线性的特点,致使分类难度较大,分类精度不高,这对次声事件的分类工作提出了挑战。针对次声事件中的化学爆炸与天然地震信号分类问题,文章构建了一种改进的深度卷积神经网络分类模型用于实现两类次声信号的分类。论文采用"全面禁止核试验条约组织"官网上收集到的化学爆炸和天然地震次声信号进行数据集的构建,使用改进的深度卷积神经网络分别与BP网络和一维LeNet-5网络进行对比分析。实验结果表明,论文的测试识别率能够达到82.72%,较上述算法有优势。     

Temporal gap resolution in listeners with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss

Temporal gap resolution was measured in five normal-hearing listeners and five cochlear-impaired listeners, whose sensitivity losses were restricted to the frequency regions above 1000 Hz. The stimuli included a broadband noise and three octave band noises centered at 0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 kHz. Results for the normal-hearing subjects agree with previous findings and reveal that gap resolution improves progressively with an increase in signal frequency. Gap resolution in the impaired listeners was significantly poorer than normal for all signals including those that stimulated frequency regions with normal pure-tone sensitivity. Smallest gap thresholds for the impaired listeners were observed with the broadband signal at high levels. This result agrees with data from other experiments and confirms the importance of high-frequency signal audibility in gap detection. The octave band data reveal that resolution deficits can be quite large within restricted frequency regions, even those with minimal sensitivity loss.     

Relationships between arithmetic averages of sound pressure level calculated in octave bands and Zwicker’s loudness level

Previously it has been found through a series of psychoacoustical experiments that the arithmetic average of sound pressure level calculated in octave bands is a good estimator of loudness for various kinds of environmental noise. Remarkably, the arithmetic average of sound pressure level in octave bands from 63 Hz to 4 kHz, L_m,1/1(63-4k), strongly correlates with the loudness level specified in ISO 532B, LL(Z), as well as with loudness assessment. To investigate this relationship further, a numerical study has been carried out based on Zwicker’s loudness model. As a result, practical expressions to estimate the loudness levels of general environmental noises from the sound pressure levels in octave bands from 63 Hz or 125 Hz to 4 kHz are proposed.