Evaluation of an Impulse Noise Producing Underwater Tool on Hearing in Divers

Abstract

Although it is known that continuous noise underwater may be damaging to human hearing, little research has been done on the influence of impulse noise underwater on hearing in man. NEDU evaluated the effect of an impulse noise producing stud gun, the Ramset 200 HD gun-powder actuated underwater tool, on the hearing in five U.S. Navy divers. Using heavy gun-powder loads and firing 1148 shots underwater into 1/2 thick steel plates, the average peak sound pressure level (SPL) underwater was 185.4 dB. The in-air equivalent peak SPL was 150.4 dB. In summary, firing up to 40 shots consecutively in an open-water, unconfined space did not demonstrate any acoustic injury to the diver.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA183447

Entities

People

  • J. A. Sterba

Organizations

  • United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Measurement
  • Audiometry
  • Ear
  • Explosions
  • Fourier Transformation
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Domain
  • Head Injuries
  • Impulse Noise
  • Measurement
  • Noise
  • Sound Pressure
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Tools
  • Underwater Explosions
  • Underwater Tools
  • Wet Suits

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Acoustics.
  • Explosive Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster