Non-Auditory Damage Risk Assessment for Impulse Noise

Abstract

This paper discusses the non-injury thresholds established for three different complex waveforms. These animal studies were accomplished by EG&G at the Blast overpressure Test Site at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico. Human volunteer studies were also performed. The human studies verified non-injury levels for three different freefield waveforms and one complex waveform. The use of the Bowen model developed nearly 40 years earlier, as well as two later models, will be discussed. A simple relationship between an "acceptability limit and the non-auditory injury limit was found to exist. This "acceptability limit" was found to be approximately 70 % to 80% of the non-injury limit in peak pressure in kPa. This small reduction in peak level provides a sufficient safety factor for all possible waveforms, both complex and freefield, and a simple mathematical equation is recommended as a practical design goal.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADP010346

Entities

People

  • Daniel L Johnson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acceptability
  • Biomedical Research
  • Blast
  • Blast Injuries
  • Blast Waves
  • Explosives
  • Frequency
  • Impulse Noise
  • Models
  • Risk Analysis
  • Self Propelled
  • Simulations
  • Small Arms
  • Waveforms
  • Waves
  • Weapons
  • Wounds And Injuries

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design