Modeling of Acoustic Pressure Waves in Level-Dependent Earplugs

Abstract

The report describes both experimental and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) characterizations of acoustic pressure wave travel through a level-dependent hearing protection device, or earplug. The Army's Combat Arms Earplug (CAE) was the device evaluated. Experimental real-ear attenuation at threshold measurements compared very well with design specifications for the CAE. Experimental continuous noise measurements showed higher than desired attenuation in the 1 - to 4-kHz range. Experimental impulse tests provided dynamic response data under field-type conditions and were used to validate the CFD predictions. CFD predictions of the continuous noise input underpredicted the attenuation at higher frequencies. Predicted values of impulse noise attenuation were good, to within 15% of the experimental values.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA494236

Entities

People

  • James DeSpirito
  • Mary Binseel

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Filters
  • Acoustics
  • Attenuation
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Dynamic Response
  • Ear
  • Equations
  • Experimental Data
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Frequency
  • Hearing Protection
  • Impulse Noise
  • Losses
  • Measurement
  • Noise
  • Standards
  • Transmission Loss

Readers

  • Acoustics.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation