With advancements in technology, electric vehicles are dominating the world making Internal Combustion engines less relevant, and hence vehicles are becoming quieter than ever before. But noise levels remain a significant concern for both passengers and automotive manufacturers. The vehicle's interior noise can affect the overall driving experience and even the safety of the driver and the passengers. The two main sources of vehicle interior noise are attributed to air-borne noises and structure-borne noises. A modern automobile is a complicated vibration system with several excitation sources like the engine, transmission system, tire/road interface excitation, and wind noise. With electric vehicles on the rise, the engine and transmission noise is practically eliminated, and effective preventive measures and control systems are already in place to reduce the aerodynamic-based noise, vibrations, and harshness (NVH) in modern automobiles making the structure-borne noise the most crucial of the noise sources. Tire/road interaction noise being the most dominant among the structure-borne noise is the main concern of the vehicle interior noise. The two main sources of vehicle interior noise induced by the tire pavement interaction noise are structure-borne noise induced by the low-frequency excitation and air-borne noises produced by the mid and high-frequency excitation. The present study tested an all-season tire over varying operational conditions such as different speeds, normal loads, and inflation pressures on an asphalt surface. Two tri-axial accelerometers attached 1800 apart from each other on the inner liner of the tire of a Volkswagen Jetta were used to measure the circumferential, lateral, and radial acceleration data. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and velocity box (VBOX) were instrumented in the vehicle to measure the acceleration at the center of gravity (COG) position of the vehicle and the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle respectively. The vehicle was also equipped with a modified hybrid of Close Proximity Testing (CPX) and On-Board Sound Intensity (OBSI) sound measurement systems which were designed and manufactured in-house to measure the tire/road interaction noise at the leading and trailing edges of the tire/road contact patch. Another microphone was instrumented inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle at the passenger's seat right ear position over the tire mounted with the sound measurement system to measure the vehicle interior noise as interpreted by the passengers in the vehicle. Two data acquisition systems coupled with a real-time Simulink model were used to collect all the measured data, one for the noise signals and the other for velocity and acceleration signals. The focus of the current study is to review different generation and amplification mechanisms of the structure-induced tire/road interaction noise and find the relevant dominant frequency ranges of the vehicle interior noise induced by the structure-borne noises using already established physics-based models and correlation techniques. It also aims to find correlations between tire acceleration, vehicle interior noise, and tire pavement interaction noise and their effect on different operational conditions like load, inflation pressure, and velocity. All the signals are studied in the time, frequency, and spectral domain and insights have been drawn on different tire/road noise generation and amplification mechanisms. / Master of Science / Structure-induced vehicle interior noise is one of the main concerns surrounding the automotive NVH industry and tire/road interaction noise being the most dominant source among the structure-borne noises affecting the vehicle interior noise is a major problem to the tire and automotive manufacturers nowadays. It leads to discomfort for the driver and the passengers in the vehicle and can cause fatigue, which in turn can directly affect the vehicle's safety. Several attempts have been made to reduce vehicle interior noise using statistical, physics-based, and hybrid models, but the research is still nowhere near completion. The current study aims to identify the frequency ranges affecting the structure-borne noise-induced vehicle interior noise and uses data-driven approaches in estimating the vehicle interior noise using only the acceleration of the tire. A test setup was designed and developed in-house where a tri-axial accelerometer embedded inside the inner liner of the tire measures the X, Y, and Z acceleration signals. Several microphones are instrumented at the tire/road contact surface and inside the passenger cabin to measure the tire/road interaction noise and the vehicle interior noise. The longitudinal velocity of the vehicle and the accelerations at the center of gravity of the vehicle have also been measured. Multiple data-driven models have been developed to directly predict the vehicle interior noise and tire/road interaction noise using the accelerometer data. This research is directly helpful for the automotive and tire industries by giving them insights on designing and developing quieter tires by using data-driven approaches and further using these with active control systems can mask the vehicle interior noise to acceptable levels in real-time.

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A study was conducted to determine the dependency of sound attenuation capabilities of earmuffs and earcaps on various application instruction techniques including: (1) no instruction, (2) no instruction with 70 dBA auditory feedback, (3) manufacturers' package instruction, (4) detailed instruction, and (5) modeled instruction. The hearing protection devices (HPDs) studied were: two earcaps (Willson #20 Sound-Ban, Flents #055 Peace & Quiet Headband), and four earmuffs (E-A-R model 1000, Siebe Norton Industrial model 4540, Peltor H6A/v, and Willson 365A Sound Barrier). HPD comfort and wearer preferences were also assessed. Furthermore, typical excessive industrial machinery noises were sampled and analyzed across the 1/3 octave frequencies. Finally, an example is provided as to how these machinery noise spectra can be matched with HPD attenuation spectra to ascertain the protector which would afford optimal protection for a given noise situation. Fifty subjects (twenty-five males and twenty-five females) participated in the experiment. Attenuation characteristics of the HPDs were evaluated utilizing the real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) method. A three-way mixed factorial design was used for data collection and analysis of attenuation results. Bipolar scales were used to assess individual HPD comfort, and the HPDs examined were ranked to obtain user preferences. In the analysis of attenuation results, analysis of variance CANOVA) and pairwise comparisons were utilized to detect statistical significance. The comfort scales and ranking scores were evaluated using the Friedman one-way block design. Attenuation results for the earmuffs and earcaps tested showed that they were much less susceptible than earplugs (from a previous study by Epps, 1984) to changes in user insertion/donning instruction technique and also not as dependent on user gender. The main effect of gender was not significant, and in general, any instruction was better than no instruction at all but the effects of those instructions did not differ significantly among each other. As expected, there were main effect differences among the HPDs as to their attenuation capabilities, rated discomfort, and user preference. Because the main objective was on assessing donning instruction effects on HPD attenuation, the comfort/preference assessment was based on only a short (25 minutes) wearing time during the attenuation tests. Therefore, the comfort/preference ratings could likely vary given longer wearing periods and different work environments. All results found are discussed on the basis of the sample data obtained and conclusions drawn from these results should be limited to these experimental conditions and subsequent analyses, as actual attenuation achieved in practice may differ. The example of HPD-machinery noise matching illustrates that the attenuation/spectral matching procedure may indeed be a feasible way of selecting optimal protection for workers. / Master of Science

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdorales, 2015-2016 / Ce mémoire traite globalement du goût pour l’expérience désagréable. Plus précisément, il y est question de l’expérience de la musique noise en concert, à travers sa réception chez les auditeurs et auditrices d’Anvers, de Bruxelles et de Gand. Afin d’aborder ce phénomène, cet ouvrage observe les attentes et les évaluations de l’expérience esthétique, ainsi que les facteurs la facilitant. L’analyse présentée fait interagir différentes théories et différents concepts qui aident ensemble à comprendre la complexité de l’expérience du concert noise, autant aux niveaux affectif, évaluatif, identitaire que social. Partant, les comportements et les discours sont centraux pour la compréhension de ce phénomène. Nous verrons de la sorte le rapport particulier que le spectateur entretien avec l’objet de cette musique, et comment ce rapport facilite l’expérience et permet ultimement qu’on l’apprécie. / This master’s thesis deals globally with the taste for the unpleasant experience. Specifically, it discusses the experiences of noise music in concert, through its reception among listeners in Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent. To address this phenomenon, this work observes the expectations and evaluations of aesthetic experience, as well as the facilitating factors. The analysis made to interact different theories and concepts that help all to understand the complexity of the experience of noise music concert, both in the affective, the evaluative, the identity than the social levels. Consequently, behaviors and discourses are central to the understanding of this phenomenon. We will see in this way the special relationship that the spectator carries with this music's object, and how this relation facilitates the experience and ultimately helps its appreciation.

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This thesis is based on modifications performed on the U.S. Army TACOM (Tank Automotive Command, Warren, Michigan) Thermal Imaging Model (TTIM). It discusses the TTIM computer model of a staring thermal imaging sensor with respect to spatial nonuniformities. The spatial nonuniformities in a staring sensor is caused by fixed pattern noise or responsivity variations across the sensor. The objective of the thesis is to present the correction schemes for spatial nonuniformities present on a staring thermal imaging sensor and the data analysis of the corrections using flat field and bar chart targets of known temperatures. The signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) of the images will be calculated and measured before and after the correction. A simulated image after a one-point correction will be evaluated by comparison with an image from a real system using a platinum silicide thermal imaging sensor. The limits and assumptions of the simulation also will be discussed.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute - Animal Science & Industry / Daniel Y.C. Fung / Proper microbiological examination of foods involves proper sample preparation in terms of mixing the solid or liquid food with a suitable sterile diluent (usually a 1:10 dilution) in a sterile bag and homogenizing them manually or by means of an instrument. This thesis addresses the effectiveness of Stomacher®, Pulsifier®, Bagmixer®, and Smasher® instruments in terms of: 1) Number of viable cell counts/g of ten food types, 2) Noise level of the four instruments ascertained by a) human and b) decibel meter at five feet (1.52 meters) from each instrument, 3) Ease in cleaning the instruments after use, and 4) Ergonomics. Following the ISO Method (7218:2007), 25 g each of alfalfa sprouts, spinach, peanuts, ground beef, fish meat, hot dogs, tofu, milk, chicken wing meat, and chicken drum stick meat were placed individually in a sterile sample bag containing 224.5 mL of 0.1% Peptone water plus 0.5 mL of E. coli inoculum diluent. Each food was homogenized for 60 seconds in each of the instruments. During each treatment four laboratory workers standing at five feet (1.52 meters) from the instrument assessed the noise level as: very quiet, quiet, nearly quiet, acceptable noise, and loud. Also the noise level was monitored instrumentally by the use of a decibel meter and recorded as Db. Ease of cleaning and ergonomics were determined with the aid of a subjective scale set with the Stomacher® as a reference point. The results indicate that all four instruments have similar performance in regards to viable cell counts. However, in regards to noise level, the Smasher® and the Bagmixer® are the quietest compared to the Stomacher® and then the Pulsifier®. The Smasher® is also the instrument with the highest ranking in ease of cleaning and ergonomics.

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2006 / Occupational noise affects industries in many countries around the world, and there is strong evidence from previous research linking it to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). More than 30 million workers in the United States of America alone were exposed to hazardous noise at the workplace before 1998. In South Africa, workers are not supposed to be exposed to a noise rating limit at or above 85dB(A). Abattoir employees are subjected to high noise levels when compared to the occupational noise rating limit of 85dB(A). Noise is generated from various mechanised and manual processes and activities in the abattoir during the slaughter of different animal species. Noise sources include conveyers, circular saws, air conditioners and pumps, pneumatic and other mechanical equipment. The aim of this study was to characterise noise exposure in different grades of abattoirs during the slaughter of cattle and sheep. The grading of abattoirs was previously done according to Grade A-E. Grade A-C is now referred to as high throughput abattoirs while Grade D and E are referred to as low throughput abattoirs. Personal and environmental noise exposure levels of workers in Grade A, C and D abattoirs in the Free State were therefore investigated. Noise measurements were done in accordance with the methods stipulated in the South African National Standards (SANS) Code of Practice 10083. Environmental and personal sampling were conducted with a calibrated Type 1 Quest integrated sound level meter (ISLM) and a Quest noise dosimeter respectively. Calibration was checked before and after taking measurements to ensure reliability and validity of results. The average noise exposure level in the high throughput abattoirs was above the recommended standard of 85dB(A). In the low throughput abattoirs the noise exposure levels were below this level. There were no statistically significant differences between the noise exposure levels during the slaughter of different species (P>0.05), or between Grade A and Grade C (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) however between Grade A and Grade D noise exposure levels. The results indicate that workers in Grade A and C abattoirs are exposed to unacceptable noise levels. Further research is recommended to include all categories of abattoirs and to determine the impact of noise exposure on the worker’s hearing in order to develop strategies to protect employees from the effects of excessive exposure to noise.

ITC/USA 2007 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Third Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 22-25, 2007 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Thermocouple measurements require “cold junction” compensation in order to obtain a correct reading. This compensation has traditionally been done with custom circuitry. In flight test applications where volume and power are at a premium (e.g. weapons flight test) it is desirable to have a more flexible solution that uses standard analog data acquisition channels already available as part of the encoder circuitry and performs compensation with remote software. This can be done via digital compensation, but certain measures must be taken to maintain accuracy and minimize noise. This paper describes some of these techniques and their performance tradeoffs.