Acceleration noise generated by a random repeated impact process

Acceleration noise levels generated by a random repeated impact process have been predicted and compared with experimental measurements. The process consisted of a ball bouncing on a randomly vibrating surface, and is an idealized representation of random impact phenomena which can occur in machinery and transportation systems where a rolling element is in intermittent contact with the rolling surface. Predictions of the magnitudes of impacts and the times between them have been used in conjunction with established acoustic theory to estimate acceleration noise levels generated by the impacting ball. Measured sound pressure levels were in excellent agreement with the predicted levels.