Implications of Basic Research in Hearing for the Design of Safer Weapons.

Abstract

Continued basic research on auditory function has produced evidence that current thinking on the hazard from weapons impulses may need revision. Specifically, evidence indicates that spectral tuning of the ear results in the prime source of damage being the energy in the mid-range (1.0-3.0 kHz). This is true even though spectral peaks may be much lower in frequency. Given this tuning, it is argued that measures aimed at changing the energy in the mid-range can reduce the hazard appreciably. Two specific suggestions are: lengthening the rise-time of the impulse and using barriers to create sound shadows. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA079135

Entities

People

  • G. Richard Price

Organizations

  • Human Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Displacement
  • Ear
  • Engineering
  • Free Field
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Domain
  • Hearing Loss
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Impulse Noise
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Membranes
  • Muzzle Brakes
  • Propellants
  • Sound Pressure
  • Weapons
  • Wounds And Injuries

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Educational Psychology
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.