Investigation of simultaneous influence of vibration and noise on drivers of road vehicles with the energy method

Project manager: Piotr Kowalski Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

The main aim of the task was to develop a method of assessing simultaneous exposure of drivers of road vehicles to hand-arm and whole-body vibration, and noise.The tasks related to carrying out the main goal included: - using the energy method to measure simultaneous vibration and noise,- using the energy method to assess exposure to vibration and noise simultaneously affecting workstations of drivers of road vehicles.Measurements of infrasonic noise were included in the task, too.On the basis of the results, it was revealed that the suggested method of a total assessment of exposure to vibroacoustic elements is useful at workstations where the worker is exposed to vibrations and noise at the same time. It was shown that a separate assessment of individual elements implies an unjustified overlooking in the assessment of some vibroacoustic energy that reaches the worker. According to the accepted assumptions, the developed method of a total assessment makes it possible to include admissible values established for individual elements, which are related to individual parts of the vibroacoustic energy from individual elements.The results of the measurements of the values characteristic for individual vibroacoustic elements can be used both in the suggested method of total assessment and in standardized methods that concern individual elements on their own.

Unit: Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards

Duration: 01.01.2005 – 31.12.2007