Title: Infrasound pressure levels in vehicles

Authors: H. Onusic, V.S. Mizutani

Addresses: DaimlerChrysler do Brasil Ltda, Development Center - DT/TAS/TVC, Av. Alfred Jurzykowski, 562 - 09680-900 Sao Bernardo do Campo, SP - Brazil and Instituto de Fisica da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Caixa Postal 66318, 05315-970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil. ' Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A., Av. Brig. Faria Lima, 2170 - 12227-901 - S.J. Campos SP - Brazil

Abstract: This article presents the results of experimental investigations regarding infrasound pressure levels in commercial vehicles and passenger cars under differentiated conditions. The investigations come from measurements effected in specific conditions as follows: speed variation, cabin shape, windows and solar roof closed, totally and partially opened. Under the action of wind attack, the passenger compartment behaves sometimes like a cavity called Helmholtz resonator. The windows, the solar roof apertures and the volume are important parameters in this research. The infrasound levels as well the spectrum profiles are analysed under different conditions, and the results coming from passenger cars and commercial vehicles are compared. The time exposition is associated to the levels and some aspects concerning comfort and injury are discussed.

Keywords: cavity resonance; infrasound levels; low frequencies; commercial vehicles; passenger cars; spectrum profiles; comfort; injury; pressure levels; vibrations; vehicle noise; automotive acoustics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2005.006091

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2005 Vol.37 No.1, pp.99 - 111

Published online: 03 Feb 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article