The Effects of Blast Trauma (Impulse Noise) on Hearing: A Parametric Study
Abstract
The primary goal of this research project was to produce a data base from which one could estimate the hazards to hearing associated with a wide variety of non-reverberant (free-field) blast were exposures. To achieve this objective four different blast wave generation devices were designed. Three of these sources are based upon shock tube methods and one uses a high energy electrical discharge to produce a shock wave. The four sources produce pressure- time waveforms whose A-weighted amplitude spectra peak at four different regions of the audible spectrum. The conventional shock tube (Source I) has maximum A- weighted energy in the 0.250 kHz octave band; the 5-inch Lamont rapid acting valve driven shock tube (Source II) has its energy maxima in the 2 kHz octave band; while the spark discharge energy (Source III) has its energy maxima in the 2 kHz octave band; while the spark discharge energy (Source IV) is concentrated in the 4 and 8 kHz octave band. These sources in anechoic surroundings produce non-reverberant waves that approximate the ideal Friedlander wave.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA241117
Entities
People
- George Turrentine
- Keng D. Hsueh
- Robert I. Davis
- Roger P. Hamernik
- William A. Ahroon
Organizations
- State University of New York