Behavioral, autonomic, and subjective reactions to low- and moderate-level simulated sonic booms : a report of two experiments and a general evaluation of sonic boom startle effects.

OAM report.PDFTech ReportFAA-AM-74-9DOT/FAA/AM-74/9Sonic boomNoiseAnnoyancePerformanceAdaptation (Psychology)Eye movementsEffective sound pressurePhysiological aspectsHeart rateGalvanic skin responseExperimentsHuman subject testingUnited StatesCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteThackray, Richard I.Touchstone, R. MarkBailey, Joe P.Civil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineNTL-AVIATION-AVIATIONNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Energy and EnvironmentUS Transportation CollectionTwo separate studies are reported. The first attempted to determine a sonic boom exposure level below which startle reactions would not occur. Subjects were exposed indoors to six simulated sonic booms having various outside overpressures. In the second study, subjects were exposed indoors to a series of 12 simulated booms in order to assess habitual effects. Automatic and eyeblink responses, as well as ratings of subjective annoyance, were obtained in both studies. The final section of the report summarizes the expected behavioral, autonomic, and subjective effects of exposure to various levels of sonic booms