WP Leader: Sorbonne Université
The objective of WP3 is to quantify accurately the correlation between low sonic boom exposure and human response (« dose to response relationship ») in representative situations (« ecological validity ») for the European citizens. Up-to-date exposure response relationships of noise/vibration and the probability to awake are needed to inform policy, establish standards and develop protection concepts in order to reduce the impact in communities and therewith decrease the overall-annoyance of transportation noise. Given the State of the Art analysis, in case of low boom, these situations have been identified as daytime outdoor exposure (task 3.4), daytime indoor exposure (task 3.3), and nighttime sleep disturbances (task 3.5).
Recommended metrics are assessed to quantify boom exposure (task 3.2). To expose people to low sonic booms from yet non-existing aircraft, requires building two specific boom simulators. They are designed to reproduce with high fidelity a low boom signal, either indoor (including potential building vibrations) or outdoor. The indoor boom simulator combines a pressure chamber and a vibration platform. Indirect rattle noise is either synthesized or results from installations. The outdoor boom simulator combines low frequency subwoofers and high frequency loudspeakers with phase equalization process to control the pressure time waveform. Two milestones (M3.1 & M3.2) are dedicated to the qualification of the boom simulators. Boom annoyance at different boom levels is rated by a large panel of population. Annoyance is assessed for people not only passively listening, but also while performing various activities for ecological validity. Subjective boom annoyance is correlated to boom level measured by various metrics.
Undisturbed and sufficiently long sleep, as providing physical and mental recreation, is a prerequisite for human wellbeing and health, as well as for the prevention of fatigue-induced accidents. Polysomnography, i.e. the continuous measurement of electrical brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), and muscle tone (EMG) is the clinical standard for measuring sleep, and currently the only method that provides detailed information on sleep structure (e.g. distribution of different sleep stages, EEG awakenings and arousals). The RUMBLE project examines the sleep of a minimum of 50 subjects for 3 nights, subjected to the outdoor low boom Simulator. Well-defined noise and vibration levels are played in with this simulator from outside to a sleeping room in an isolated flat. The results are used to model an exposure (noise, vibration) – response (awakening probability) curve that can be compared to those curves of other transportation mode.
Considering the above, WP3 structure is as follows:
- Task 3.1: Preliminary Requirements
- Task 3.2: Implementation of sonic boom metrics
- Task 3.3: Indoor human response to sonic boom
- Subtask 3.3.1: Quantification of indoor boom vibrations
- Subtask 3.3.2: Design of Indoor Low Boom Simulator
- Subtask 3.3.3: Realization and assessment of Indoor Low Boom Simulator
- Subtask 3.3.4: Indoor subjective perception of the low boom: preparation of study
- Subtask 3.3.5: Indoor subjective perception of the low boom: study realization and analysis
- Task 3.4: Outdoor human response to sonic boom
- Subtask 3.4.1: Design of Outdoor Low Boom Simulator
- Subtask 3.4.2: Realization and assessment of Outdoor Low Boom Simulator
- Subtask 3.4.3: Outdoor subjective perception of the low boom: preparation of study
- Subtask 3.4.4: Outdoor subjective perception of the low boom: study realization and analysis
- Task 3.5 : Effect of low boom on sleep
- Subtask 3.5.1: Translation of questionnaires
- Subtask 3.5.2: Subjects recruitment and student training
- Subtask 3.5.3: Sonic boom exposure
- Subtask 3.5.4: Analysis
