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University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Human performance

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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Ab-10-018: The Effects Of Noise From Building Mechanical Systems With Tonal Components On Human Performance And Perception (1322-Rp), Erica E. Ryherd, Lily M. Wang Jan 2010

Ab-10-018: The Effects Of Noise From Building Mechanical Systems With Tonal Components On Human Performance And Perception (1322-Rp), Erica E. Ryherd, Lily M. Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effects of noise from building mechanical systems with tonal components on human task performance and perception. Six different noise conditions based on in-situ measurements were reproduced in an office-like setting; all were set to approximately the same sound level (47 dBA) but could have one particular tonal frequency (120 Hz, 235 Hz, or 595 Hz) at one of two tonal prominence ratios (5 or 9). Thirty participants were asked to complete typing, grammatical reasoning, and math tasks plus subjective questionnaires, while being exposed for approximately 1 hour to each noise condition. Results show that the noise …


Ab-10-017: Combined Effects Of Noise And Temperature On Human Comfort And Performance (1128-Rp), Dale Tiller, Lily M. Wang, Amy Musser, Matthew Radik Jan 2010

Ab-10-017: Combined Effects Of Noise And Temperature On Human Comfort And Performance (1128-Rp), Dale Tiller, Lily M. Wang, Amy Musser, Matthew Radik

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes results from an experiment designed to investigate the combined effects of noise and temperature on human thermal comfort and task performance. Thirty subjects (16 females, 14 males) were exposed to all combinations of five thermal conditions (PMV +1 [79.6°F:26.4°C], PMV +0.5 [75.8°F:24.3°C], PMV 0 [72.1°F:22.3°C], PMV -0.5 [68.3°F:20.2°C], and PMV -1 [64.6°F:18.1°C]), three RC noise levels (RC-30, RC-40, and RC-50), and two sound qualities (neutral and rumbly): all sounds mimicked noise from building ventilation systems. After a one-hour adaptation period at each condition, subjects rated their thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Scale and the Tenant …


Ab-10-019: Human Performance And Perception-Based Evaluations Of Indoor Noise Criteria For Rating Mechanical System Noise With Time-Varying Fluctuations (1322-Rp), Lily M. Wang, Cathleen C. Novak Jan 2010

Ab-10-019: Human Performance And Perception-Based Evaluations Of Indoor Noise Criteria For Rating Mechanical System Noise With Time-Varying Fluctuations (1322-Rp), Lily M. Wang, Cathleen C. Novak

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of noise from building mechanical systems with time-varying fluctuations on human task performance and perception, and to determine how well current indoor noise rating methods account for this performance and perception. Six different noise conditions with varying degrees of time-varying fluctuations, many focused in the low frequency rumble region, were reproduced in an office-like setting. Thirty participants were asked to complete typing, grammatical reasoning, and math tasks plus subjective questionnaires, while being exposed for approximately one hour to each noise condition. Results show that the noise conditions with higher sound …


Or-05-6-4: Relating Human Productivity And Annoyance To Indoor Noise Criteria Systems: A Low Frequency Analysis, Erica Eileen Bowden, Lily M. Wang Jan 2005

Or-05-6-4: Relating Human Productivity And Annoyance To Indoor Noise Criteria Systems: A Low Frequency Analysis, Erica Eileen Bowden, Lily M. Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A number of indoor noise criteria systems are used to quantify the background noise in a built environment, including Noise Criteria (NC), Balanced Noise Criteria (NCB), Room Criteria (RC), Room Criteria Mark II (RC Mark II), A-weighted Equivalent Sound Pressure Level (LAeq), and others. An on-going debate exists in the acoustical community over which criterion is the most appropriate to use in the variety of ambient noise situations encountered. In an effort to quantitatively support the use of individual criterion, this project subjectively correlates these various criteria with human task performance and perception. Eleven subjects participated in a …