A study of the subjective equivalence of noise and whole-body vibration

An experiment has been conducted to determine the subjective equivalence of 1000 Hz pure tone noise and 10 Hz sinusoidal whole-body vertical vibration. Each of 20 male subjects was exposed to all 64 possible combinations of 8 levels of noise (65 dB to 100 dB SPL) and 8 levels of vibration (0·20 m/s² r.m.s. to 1·2 m/s² r.m.s.). The noise was presented via circumaural headphones and the vibration exposure was by means of a flat hard seat. The method of constant stimuli was used. Both stimuli were presented simultaneously for a period of ten seconds and subjects were asked to indicate whether, if they were to be presented with the combination again, they would prefer that the noise or the vibration should be reduced.It was concluded that the subjects were relatively self-consistent and that the major source of variability was due to intersubject differences. The conditions for equivalence for 50% of the subjects ranged from about 0·2 m/s² r.m.s. at 69 dB to 1·2 m/s² r.m.s. at 94 dB. The results are presented in a form that enables an estimate to be made of the percentage of subjects who prefer reduced noise or vibration at any of the given combinations of the two stimuli. Further studies to extend the range and establish the general applicability of these results are suggested. It is considered that such results could be employed as a guide to reducing either the noise or the vibration in some environments.     

Duration of whole-body vibration exposure its effect on comfort

Most human response to vibration standards imply that low vibration levels are acceptable for longer periods than higher levels. In such standards it is usually assumed that the relationship between exposure duration and vibration level is of a similar form for a wide range of different types of motion. The experiment described in this paper was conducted to determine whether the relative discomfort produced by 4 Hz and 16 Hz sinusoidal whole-body vertical (a_z) vibration was dependent on the duration of the vibration exposure.Each of eight seated subjects was exposed to two 36-minute vibration sessions. Both sessions consisted of ten-second periods of 4 Hz and 16 Hz vibration alternating continuously. In one session the 4 Hz motion was set at the “standard” level of 0·75 m/s² r.m.s. while the level of the 46 Hz “test” motion could be adjusted by the subjects. In the other session the 16 Hz motion was the standard at 0·75 m/sl r.m.s. and the level of the 4 Hz motion could be adjusted. The subjects were required to control the intensity of the test motion to compensate for periodic changes in its intensity made by the experimenter and so to maintain it at a level which produced similar discomfort to that caused by the standard motion.It was found that the relationship between the average levels of the two motions when adjusted to produce similar discomfort was independent of the vibration duration. The findings are discussed in relation to other laboratory research and the need for a better understanding of the effects of the duration of a vibration on its acceptability.     

Predicting the effects of vertical vibration frequency,combinations of frequencies and viewing distance on the reading of numeric displays

This paper describes a series of experiments to determine the effects of vibration frequency, viewing distance and multiple frequency motions on the reading of numeric characters. Contours of vertical (z-axis) whole-body vibration levels resulting in equal degradation of the reading task were determined over the frequency range 2·8 Hz to 63 Hz. With the seating condition employed, the task was found to be most sensitive to vibration acceleration at a frequency of 11·2 Hz. A marked correlation was observed between reading error and reading speed. The effects of vibration on reading performance were found to be dependent on viewing distance for distance of less than 1·5 m, with the effect increasing as the viewing distance was decreased. The effect of 3·15 Hz vibration was found to increase more rapidly with reductions in viewing distance than that of 16 Hz vibration. The effects of 3·15 and 16 Hz vibration were independent of viewing distance greater than 1·5 m, indicating that the effects of rotational eye motion are dominant at these distances. Four methods were compared for predicting the effects of multiple frequency motion on reading performance given a knowledge of the effect of each component alone. The best predictions of reading error were obtained from the most severe weighted spectral component alone. Inspection of individual subject's data suggests that in many cases the effect of multiple frequency vibration on reading is even less than the effect of the largest sinusoidal component alone.     

Noise from small air jets and a quiet valve

Noise measurements of air jets of from 0·0794 to 0·635 cm diameter, with jet exit velocity varying from 54 to 244 m/s, to frequencies of 100 kHz are presented. Results are compared to those previously obtained for larger nozzles; acoustical power spectral density curves are found to be similar to those for the larger nozzles at like velocities. Results of a noise survey conducted near a 0·127 m line size quiet vent valve having approximately 20 000 square jets, 0·127 cm on a side are presented and found to agree with the laboratory nozzle noise data. Noise above a jet velocity of 120 m/s was found to be quadrupole in nature, while below this velocity dipole surface sound was observed; this surface noise is the noise of quiet valves, which operate at low velocities. It is estimated that a quiet valve jet of 0·025 cm diameter, with a velocity near 60 m/s will exhibit a peak acoustical power spectral density at frequencies beyond the range of human audibility.     

Dynamic properties of the human head

Driving point mechanical impedance measurements were used to determine the dynamic response of the human head to sinusoidal vibration in the frequency range between 30 Hz and 5000 Hz at excitation levels of 0·98 m/s² and 3·4 m/s2. Because of the low excitation levels, the weight of the head was sufficient to couple the head to the vibration source.At 20 Hz the impedance magnitude was about 790 N-s/m but increased at approximately 6dB/octave to a peak near 3500 N-s/m at 70–90 Hz. Between 100 Hz and 2000 Hz impedance decreased by about two orders of magnitude while the apparent mass decreased by three orders of magnitude indicating good vibration isolation at higher frequencies. The impedance response contains the information for modelling the head as a dynamic system.The response of the head to vibration can be simulated by a two degree-of-freedom, mass-excited system consisting of a series connection of a small driving mass, a damper, a spring and damper in parallel and a large final mass. Parameter values, derived by computer techniques, suggest that the large mass represents the total head, the small mass the tissue in contact with the vibration input and the spring the skull stiffness.     

激光等离子体脉冲软X光标定源

 利用神光Ⅱ上激光与等离子体相互作用得到的软X光,建立了基于多层镜的四通道软X光单色器系统。研究了光源的性能,测量了光源强度、单色器系统稳定性、相应通道的一致性。研究表明,采用多层镜作为脉冲光源的分光元件,可以得到具有较好单色性的强脉冲软X 光标定源。光源的光子能量为253 eV和820 eV,两能道的光源强度分别为1.8×10¹⁹ photon/(s·cm²)和3.2×10¹⁹ photon/(s·cm²)。在该标定源上可以实现XRD、平面镜、多层镜、透射光栅和滤片的标定。     

充液管路系统流体声与结构声的复合有源控制

采用基于谐频自适应控制算法的有源消声与消振系统对充液管路系统突出的低频线谱噪声进行有源控制实验研究.建立了泵水循环管路实验系统,在管路中安装有源消声器对流体声进行控制,在管路出口障板上采用8×8通道有源消振系统控制结构声辐射。开展的低频线谱噪声与振动有源控制实验结果表明,在50~200 Hz频带内,通过结合有源噪声与振动控制可在多数频点取得10 dB以上的降噪效果。针对该实验系统,通过分别控制流体声和结构声分析了两者的贡献.实验结果验证了有源消声与消振系统具有较好的降噪性能,各频点处流体声与结构声占比情况不同,需要综合控制流体声与结构声才可以取得显著的降噪效果。      

A computational study of N2···HHeF: comparison with N2···HArF and N2···HKrF

A weakly bound linear complex of N₂ and HHeF was found to be stable with respect to the constituent monomers by ab initio calculations at various levels of theory (MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ) and QCISD) using a 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The complex N₂···HHeF was found to have a zero-point vibrational energy corrected binding energy of 14.5?kJ mol^?1 (QCISD) and exhibits a large harmonic vibrational frequency blue shift of 375?cm^?1 for the He–H stretching vibration mode, with a diminished infrared intensity for this mode on formation of the complex. The frequency shift for this mode was also found to be very sensitive to the level of theory employed for the calculation, and is rationalized by considering intermolecular electrostatic and charge-transfer effects. The results for N₂···HHeF are compared with corresponding results for the related complexes N₂···HArF and N₂···HKrF, both of which contain the same proton acceptor molecule.     

Design and performance of a small-scale aeroacoustic wind tunnel

The D5 aeroacoustic wind tunnel at Beihang University is a newly commissioned small-scale closed-circuit wind tunnel with low turbulence intensity and low background noise. The wind tunnel is built to study both aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of aircraft components or scaled models. The wind tunnel has two types of test sections, the closed type test section is used for aerodynamic tests while the open type test section is mainly used for aeroacoustic experiments. Both types of test section are 1 m in height and 1 m in width, and the maximum wind velocity in the test section can be up to 80 m/s. An anechoic chamber is built surrounding the test section to provide the non-reflecting condition. This paper provides an overview of design criteria and performance of the small-scale wind tunnel. The layout of the wind tunnel and some critical design treatments to improve aerodynamic and acoustic performance are discussed in detail. Some experiments are conducted to verify the performance of D5 wind tunnel, results confirm that the turbulence intensity is less than 0.08% in the core of test section and the background noise is comparable with other aeroacoustic wind tunnels. A scaled simplified nose landing gear model is also measured as a benchmark test, results reveal that noise radiated from the model is adequately higher than the background noise for a wide frequency range and remarkably consistent with other results from literatures.     

Self‐trapped N?H vibrational states in the polymorphs of glycine,L‐ and DL‐alanine

The polarized Raman spectra of the oriented single crystals of L ‐ and DL ‐alanine, α‐, β‐ and γ‐polymorphs of glycine have been studied at 3–300 K. Regularly spaced band packets have been observed in the spectral range of 2500–3000 cm⁻¹, with intensity decreasing noticeably on heating. These band packets were interpreted as the manifestations of the existence of N H self‐trapped states in these systems at low temperatures. The analysis of the polarized spectra has shown that the self‐trapping is observed exclusively for the NH stretching vibration of the amino groups, which is related to the NH···O hydrogen bonds along the head‐to‐tail chains of zwitterions in the crystal structures. The wavenumber of this NH stretching vibration, however, was proposed to depend not solely on the length of this NH···O hydrogen bond, but also on the lengths of all the other NH···O hydrogen bonds formed by the NH₃⁺ and the COO⁻ groups in the structure linking the head‐to‐tail chains with each other. The arguments in favor of the hypothesis that the self‐trapping in these systems can be mediated by zero‐point quantum motions, and not by lattice phonons, are considered. The unusually low wavenumber (2500 cm⁻¹) observed for the NH stretching vibration and indicating at the formation of a very strong NH···O bond is interpreted based on considering the effect of the crystalline environment on the formation and properties of the NH···O bonds in the head‐to‐tail chains of amino acid zwitterions. The results are interesting for understanding the factors determining the dynamics and structural instability of crystalline amino acids and also for biophysical chemistry, as the hydrogen bonded chains formed by amino acid zwitterions in the crystals can mimic the peptide chains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elastic constants of solid krypton at T = 77 K determined by inelastic neutron scattering

Long-wavelength acoustic phonons have been studied for each of the [ζ00]T, [ζ00]L, [ζζ0]L and [ζζ0]T₁ branches in solid Kr at T = 77 K by means of inelastic neutron scattering utilizing ‘cold neutrons’ as they are available in the long-wave length tail of the pile spectrum. The raw data have been corrected for resolution effects taking into account the curvature of the dispersion surface and variation of mode eigenvectors. It has turned out, that this yields appreciable shifts of the raw data. The results of our experiment give c₁₁ = 4·25 ± 0·10, c₄₄ = 2·04 ± 0·03, c₁₂ = 2·82 ± 0·12 and a value for B = (c₁₁ + 2c₁₂)/3 = 3·30 ± 0·09 × 10¹⁰ dyne/cm². Available thermodynamic data for Kr gives a derived value for B^ad = 2·58 ± 0·06 × 10¹⁰ dyne/cm² indicating a large difference between zero sound and first sound in solid Kr at high temperatures.     

Description of a coherent light technique to detect the tangential and radial vibrations of an arch dam

This paper describes a technique in which a laser light vibration sensor based on a Michelson interferometer is used. With a 5 mW laser the instrument will make measurements on a moving target at ranges greater than 200 m without using retro-reflective materials. Careful optimization of the electro-optic design reduces the effects of environmental disturbances and allows vibration amplitude resolution of 0·2 μm with a flat response in the bandwidth 0·1–150 Hz. Field tests and actual measurements of the radial and tangential displacements of an arch dam are shown.     

Performance evaluation of path-averaged soliton pulses in loss-managed 10-Gbps soliton transmission link over a long haul

In this paper, the performance evaluation of path-averaged soliton transmission link for various performance measures viz. OSNR, optical power, extinction ratio, bit error rate (BER) and Q factor at different levels of noise figure and values of pulse width (FWHM) has been carried out. The performance of soliton transmission link is studied, taking into account soliton interaction, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise and noise figure. The model presented considers interaction in a random sequence of solitons and the effect of the ASE noise added in each amplification stage. The influence of ASE noise, noise figure and pulse width with different amplifier spacing on the BER and quality factor has been investigated. It has been shown that these play dominant roles in degrading the performance measures. We have demonstrated the capability of path-averaged (guiding-centre) soliton for a long-haul distance of 17,000 km at a bit rate of 10 Gbps without ASE effect and noise figure in each amplifier span length of 500 km. The average value of quality factor is found to be 16.6 dB and the average BER is of the order of 10⁻¹² over the transmission distance of 17,000 km. Further, it has been investigated that a severe system penalty results on the inclusion of ASE effect and noise figure in order to achieve the same level of performance. Thus, the investigations ascertain that in order to maintain the same level of BER and Q factor, the amplifier spacing and total transmission distance reduce considerably.     

An experimental and analytical study of a new flap valve for generating simulated sonic booms

The design, operation, and performance of a sonic boom simulator, featuring a radically new dual-flap valve and electromechanical control system, are described. This new flap valve with its large maximum throat area (160 cm²) was designed to regulate the air flow from a low pressure reservoir (up to 0·2 atm overpressure) into the apex of a large pyramidal horn (25 m long, 3 m × 3 m base), where the incoming low speed air flow (up to 150 m/s) produces a travelling simulated sonic boom or N-wave with relatively little superposed high frequency noise. As a consequence, the full scale simulated sonic boom is virtually free of superposed jet noise, a major advance over past work with such horn-type simulators. Additionally, an advanced gasdynamic analysis of the reservoir coupled with an advanced acoustic analysis of the wave motion in the horn is presented to predict the characteristics of the simulated sonic boom—wave form, amplitude, duration, and rise time. Predicted and measured overpressure signatures are shown to be in excellent agreement.     

Nuclear orientation of152,154Tb in gadolinium

The anisotropy in the directional distribution of gamma-rays from the decay of^152,154Tb oriented in a gadolinium matrix at low temperatures, has been measured at the angles of 0 and π/2 with respect to the applied magnetic field direction at temperature of (15±1) mK. Unambiguous values of spin have been deduced for several levels in¹⁵²Gd. Multipole mixing ratios of many gamma-ray transitions occurring in¹⁵²Gd have been found and results are compared with the similar transitions in^150,154,156Gd and they are discussed in terms of the rotational-vibrational model and dynamic deformation theory based on the Strutinsky method. Our results confirm the spin value of 0 for 21·4 h isomer in¹⁵⁴Tb and they establish the spin value of 3 for the 2277·0 and 2336·1 keV levels and the spin value of 4 for the 2416·3 keV level in¹⁵⁴Gd.     

Sound radiation due to unsteady dissipation in turbulent flows

The radiation of sound from free turbulence is known to be dominated at sufficiently low Mach numbers by the unsteady dissipation of temperature or composition gradients, where these are present in the flow. Scaling laws for dissipation noise are developed, with particular application to jet mixing. Existing noise measurements on hot air jets at velocities down to 0·25c₀ appear to be better explained by a dipole mechanism (with intensity proportional to U⁶ than by unsteady thermal dissipation (for which the predicted intensity varies as U⁴).     

Differential elastic and quenching cross sections for Ar*(3P) and CO2(X1 ∑ g +)

The energy dependence of the differential scattering of metastable Ar*(³P) by ground-state CO₂(X¹ ∑ _g ⁺) has been studied at relative kinetic energies from 58 to 126 meV over an angular range of 5–160° c.m. using crossed molecular beams. The position and curvature of rainbow maxima, which are observed at each energy, are used to obtain parameters for a Lennard-Jones (12, 6) spherically symmetric potential. The position of the minimum, r _m = 5·02 ± 0·65 Å, is identical to that for K + CO₂ and the well depth, ε = 16·3 ± 0·8 meV, is about 10 per cent greater. The scattered intensity shows a distinct fall-off on the dark side of the rainbow compared to that expected for elastically scattered Ar*. This depletion, caused primarily by the quenching of Ar*, is analysed in terms of the optical-shadow model to determine the energy dependence of the observed quenching cross section, which is predicted to have a maximum of 67 Ų at 193 meV.     

Weak-coupling expansion of the low-lying energy values in the SU(2) gauge theory on a torus

Relying on analytic results obtained previously, we complete the one-loop computation of the low-lying energy values of the SU(2) gauge theory in an L × L × L periodic box. The expansions are then rewritten in terms of the universal parameter z = M(0⁺) · L (M(0⁺): energy gap in the J^p = 0⁺ sector). We find that the crossover from small-volume to large-volume behaviour is likely to take place at z ? 2. Furthermore, near the crossover, the lowest energy levels (above the ground state) in the 0⁺ sector and the 2⁺ sector are practically degenerate. In each of these sectors there is one more state at about 1.5 · M(0⁺). In the 0^? sector, on the other hand, the lowest energy value is greater than 3 · M(0⁺).     

Absolute integrated intensity and individual line parameters for the 6·2μ band of NO2

The absolute integrated intensity of the 6·2μ band of NO₂ at 40°C was determined from quantitative spectra at ~ 10 cm^?1 resolution by the spectral band model technique. A value of 1430±300 cm^?2 atm^?1 was obtained. Individual line parameters, positions, intensities and ground state energies were derived, and line-by-line calculations were compared with the band model results and with the quantitative spectra obtained at ~ 0·5 cm^?1 resolution.     

A selective two microphone acoustic intensity method

A multiple input, two output model is proposed which enables the two microphone acoustic intensity method to decompose the intensity vector into contributions from individual sources, even when they are coupled and in close proximity within the measurement surface. By treating characteristic signals from each source as the inputs, and the sound pressure signals from the two closely spaced microphones as the outputs, the model's frequency response functions are developed from a least squares approximation. The cross spectrum between the two microphones can then be expressed as a function of the input signal spectra and the model's frequency response functions. By manipulating the model terms the selective cross spectrum associated with the radiation from each individual source can then be estimated. The selective cross spectrum is then processed via standard methods to obtain the acoustic intensity vector from each source. A series of laboratory experiments is summarized which demonstrates that the technique can accurately decompose the acoustic intensity vector from highly coherent sources (γ₁₂² > 0·9) buried in background noise in a semireverberant environment, to within 1 dB of the directly measured intensities.