W : Sound and Vibration Terms and Definitions ...
W : watt is the derived SI unit of sound power and sound energy flux
Wo : reference sound power = 10-10 W ≡ 0 dB, the threshold of hearing at 1000 Hz.
Equivalent : J/s (joule per second).
W·s : watt second is the derived SI unit of energy
Equivalent : Joule.
W/Hz : watt per hertz, the power per unit frequency can be measured for broadband sound - sound power spectrum level.
W/m2 : watt per metre-squared is the derived SI unit of sound energy flux density • sound-intensity • sound power density
Equivalent : J/s·m2
W/m3 : watt per metre-cubed = power density
Warble Tone Definition IEC 801-21-07, sound whose frequency varies periodically about a mean value.
Waterfall a 3-D plot displaying the amplitude of spectral components as a function of both time and frequency. The frequency spectrum is displayed as a curve for each specified time instant. Several such curves, for different time instants, are displayed simultaneously.
Watt (W) and related SI units
WAV (waveform audio file format) is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs.
See also PCM and ADPCM.
Wave Definition (IEC 801-23-01) disturbance propagated at a definite velocity in a material medium in such a manner that at any point in the medium the quantity serving as the measure of disturbance is a function of the time, while at any instant the same quantity at a point is a function of the co-ordinates of the point
See also sound wave definition etc.,
Waveform is the shape of a time domain signal as seen on an oscilloscope screen. It is a visual representation or graph of the instantaneous value of the signal plotted against time. Inspection of the waveform can sometimes reveal information about the signal that the spectrum of the signal does not show.
For instance a sharp spike or impulse and a randomly varying continuous signal can have spectra that look almost identical, while their waveforms are completely different.
In machine vibration, spikes are usually caused by mechanical impacting, while random noise can be caused by the advanced stages of bearing degradation.
Wavefront
Wavelength
Wavenumber
Wave Propagation
Wave Velocity
WBV : whole body vibration
Weber (Wb) is the SI unit of magnetic flux, volt-seconds, causing the electromotive force of one volt in a circuit of one turn when generated or removed in 1 second.
Weekly Personal Noise Exposure (LEP,w) a measure of the total noise received by an employee during a working week. Similar to the daily personal noise exposure but calculated for a 40-hour week (five 8-hour days) instead of an 8-hour day.
See also Leq (equivalent continuous sound level)
Weight is the gravitational force acting on the mass of a body
W = m g, where W = weight, m = mass and g = acceleration (m/s2).
So weight and mass are related, but not the same thing. An object with a mass of 1 kg would weigh about 9.8 newtons on earth, but 6 times less on the moon, due to gravity. In space an object still has mass but is weightless.
In everyday use the term weight nearly always means mass. In science weight is the force due to gravity and the units are newtons.Weighted Sound Levels under frequency weighted sound levels
Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw)
Weighted Apparent Sound Reduction Index (R'w)
Weighted Standardised Impact Sound Pressure Level (LnT,w)
Weighted Standardised Impact Sound Pressure Level (L'nT,w)
Weighted Standardised Field Level Difference (DnT,w)
For example the frequency response of the human ear, in which case the A-weighting network is most commonly used with regard to noise control issues, regulations and environmental standards.
Similarly hand-arm and whole-body vibration measurements are frequency dependent. There are a range of human vibration networks or filters because measurements are made in 3-axis and the weightings for whole body measurements, seated, standing or lying down are different from the hand arm filters see the list below.
Weighting Network (Bb) for measuring whole body vibration in fixed-guide transport systems in seated or recumbent positions.
Weighting Network (Bc) for measuring horizontal whole body vibration in the X direction, perpendicular to the spinal column, at the seat back.
Weighting Network (Bd) for measuring horizontal whole body vibration in the X and Y directions, at right angles to the spinal column, in seated, standing or recumbent positions.
Weighting Network (Be) for measuring rotational whole body vibration in 3-axis.
Weighting Network (Bg) for evaluation of whole body vibration in the Z direction, with regard to hand control and visibility.
Weighting Network (Bh) for measuring hand arm vibration in the X / Y / Z axis.
Weighting Network (Bj) for measuring vibration acting on the head of a recumbent person in the vertical direction, perpendicular to the lying surface.
Weighting Network (Bk) for measuring whole body vibrations in the direction of the spinal column in seated and standing positions, for measurements in the vertical direction, perpendicular to the lying surface in recumbent position and for measurements in the X / Y / Z axis acting on the feet in seated position.
Weighting Network (Bm) for measuring whole body vibrations in buildings in the X / Y / Z axis.White Noise is uniform across the audible frequency range i.e. no specific character or tone
White Noise Definition (IEC 801-21-10) noise whose power spectral density is essentially independent of frequency, so is characterless.
However levels measurements using sound analysers with 1/1 or 1/3 octave (constant percentage bandwidth) filters will increase by 3dB, a doubling for each increasing frequency band, because the bandwidth also doubles. Pink noise on the other hand will produce constant levels across the spectrum.
Other noise descriptors ambient noise • background noise • broadband noise • gaussian noise • narrowband noise • periodic • pink noise • pseudo random noise • random noise • residual sound • specific sound • wideband noise
Our bodies are exposed to vibration at work from many machines, such as construction machinery (bulldozers, tow motors, fork lifts and cranes), heavy equipment (grinders, jack hammers), and power hand tools. Vibration has been proven to result in disorders of both the hand and arm, the neck, and the back.
The Vibration at Work Regulations state
The exposure action value is 0.5 m/s2 A(8)
The exposure limit value is 1.15 m/s2 A(8).
Whole-body Vibration exposure assessment
The assessment of the level of exposure to vibration is based on the calculation of daily exposure A(8) expressed as equivalent continuous acceleration over an eight-hour period, calculated as the highest (rms) value, or the highest vibration dose value (VDV) of the frequency-weighted accelerations, determined on three orthogonal axes (1,4awx, 1,4awy, awz for a seated or standing worker) in accordance with Chapters 5, 6 and 7, Annex A and Annex B to ISO Standard 2631-1 (1997).
See also acceleration equivalent level • maximum transient vibration • vibration at work regulations • vibration dose value
Whole Body Weightings
Wideband Noise a noise source with energy distributed over a wide section of the audible range, also known as broadband noise.
Other noise descriptors ambient noise • background noise • broadband noise • gaussian noise • narrowband noise • periodic • pink noise • pseudo random noise • random noise • residual sound • specific sound • white noise
Related Terms • apodization • hanning window • rectangular window
Some guidance is given in ISO 1996 (community noise survey noise standard) which recommends you measure downwind at wind speeds of between 1 and 5 m/s. This can result in wind 'generated' noise levels of around 30dB (A) with the windscreen on.
** a practical solution is to listen to the AC output of the sound level meter using earphones, or the audio recording feature included in some sound level meters.