ARJUN HAREENDRAN

CB.EN.P2ATE13003

PHASE - I

Noise
o Noise means any unwanted or unpleasant sound.

o Acoustic noise can be anything from quiet but annoying to loud and
harmful.
o Noise is measured in decibels (dB) on a logarithmic scale.

o Sound intensity follows an inverse square law with distance from the
source; doubling the distance from a noise source reduces its
intensity by a factor of four, or 6 dB

TYPES OF NOISE
Intermittent
E.g. : sound of the loud TV buzz when turned off and on

Continuous
E.g. : TV buzz noise turned up as loud as possible

Impact
E.g. : popping of a balloon, gun shot etc.

EFFECTS OF NOISE
Hearing Impairment
Sleep Disturbance
Interference with Speech Communication

Annoyance
Effects on Physiological Functions
Psychological effects

DAILY ALLOWABLE EXPOSURE TIMES TO NOISE

Noise Level

Allowable Exposure Time

85 decibels

8 hours

90 decibels

4 hours

100 decibels

1 hour

105 decibels

30 minutes

110 decibels

15 minutes

115 decibels

NOISE LEVELS EXAMPLES

Equipment

Noise Level

Wood Shop

89.6 decibels avg.

Music Room

90.1 decibels avg.

Ag/Metals

87.6 decibels avg.

Trimmer

92.0 decibels

Edger

94.5 decibels

Lawn Mower

96.4 decibels

Chain Saw

110 decibels

Gunshot

140 decibels

Jackhammer

112 decibels

Tractor

95-105 decibels

Circular Saw

90-100 decibels

INVERSE SQUARE LAW

NOISE MEASUREMENT
o Noise can be measured by instruments based on a sound detection device
(microphone) that is sensitive to fluctuations in barometric pressure
o After appropriate amplification, frequency weighting and filtering (when used) the
microphone output is registered on a meter.
o The basic sound level meter contains different networks that give greater weighting
or importance to sounds in certain frequency ranges than in others.

o These networks are usually referred to as the A, B, and C scales

 Low sound pressure levels for the A -network

Medium sound pressure levels for the B-network
High levels for the C-network

o The human ear does not respond in the same way to similar sound pressure levels
at different frequencies, and the "A" network of the sound level meter is intended to
approximate this type of response.

o Thus noise measurements of human concern are measured by the "A" network
and the results signified as dB(A).

TRACTOR NOISE

TRACTOR NOISE

STRUCTURE BORNE NOISE

AIR BORNE NOISE

Engine structure

cooling fan

Transmission system

exhaust silencer

Other accessories etc.

intake etc.

TRACTOR NOISE MEASUREMENT

Noise Measurement at By standers position

Tractor sound level measurements were

made on a chassis dyno in a semi-anechoic
room at different driving speeds to record
results inside and outside the cab.

NOISE MEASUREMENT STANDARDS

FOR AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS
IS 12180

Noise measurement at OEL (Operators Ear Level)

Measurement of highest SPL at operators ear level in all gears
including lower and higher gears.

Noise Measurement at By standers position

Measurement of highest SPL at 7.5 m distance from center line
of track in all gears including lower and higher gears.

ISO 5131:1996
Acoustics -- Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry -- Measurement of noise at the
operator's position -- Survey method

ISO 7216:1992
Acoustics -- Agricultural and forestry wheeled tractors and self-propelled machines
Measurement of noise emitted when in motion

IEC 651:1979
Sound level meters.

IEC 804:1985
Integrating-averaging sound level meters.

IEC 942:1988
Sound calibrators.

IEC 1260 1995

Electro-acoustics Octave-band and fractional octave-band filters

REFERENCE
Yadav, P., Gaikwad, A., Badgujar, S., Y. V. Surkutwar, N. V. Karanth - "Noise Reduction on Agricultural
Tractor," SAE Technical Paper 2013-26-0103

I.H Celen, S Arin Noise levels of Agricultural Tractors Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
6(19): 1706-1711, 2003 ISSN 1028-8880
Monazzam M. R. PhD, Nadri F. MSc, Khanjani N. PhD, Ghotbi Ravandi M. R. PhD, Nadri H. BSc, Barsam
T. MSc, Shamsi M. PhD, Akbari H. MSc, Akbari H. MSc Tractor drivers and bystanders noise exposure
in different engine speeds and gears - Iranian Journal of Military Medicine Summer 2012, Volume 14, Issue
2; 149-154

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (https://osha.europa.eu/en/sector/agriculture/index_html/noise)

International Standards Organisation (www.iso.org)

PHASE - II

o Noise

o Types of noise
o Effects of noise
o Daily allowable exposure times to noise
o Noise levels examples
o Inverse square law
o Noise measurement
o Tractor noise

o Tractor noise measurement

o Noise measurement standards for agricultural tractors
o Other related standards

 DRIVER-PERCEIVED NOISE LEVEL

Ref [4]

1. Tractor in drawbar - load method

2. No-load method
CONDITIONS OF MEASUREMENT
The tractor shall be unladen, i.e. without optional accessories, but shall include coolant, lubricant, full fuel tank, tools
and driver. The latter may not wear any abnormally thick clothing, scarf or hat. There may be no object on the
tractor likely to distort the noise level

The tyres shall be inflated to the manufacturers recommended pressure, the engine, transmission and drive axles
shall be at normal running temperature and radiator blinds when fitted shall be kept open during measurements

 If it is liable to affect the noise level, extra equipment powered by the engine or self powered such as wind screen
wipers, warm air fan, power take-off, for example, may not be in operation when measurements are being made;
parts which normally operate at the same time as the engine, such as engine cooling fan, for example, shall be in
operation when measurements are being made

The test area shall be in an open and sufficiently silent location; it may take the form, for instance, of an open space
of 50-metre radius, having a central part with a radius of at least 20 m which is practically level, or of a level
section having a solid track with as flat a surface and as few gullies as possible. The track shall be as clean and dry
as possible (e.g. free of gravel, leaves, snow, etc.). Slopes and irregularities are acceptable only if the variations in
noise level caused by them lie within the error tolerances of the measuring equipment

The surface of the track be such as not to cause excessive tyre noise

Meteorological Conditions
o The air temperature shall be in the range from -5 C to 30 C and the wind velocity shall not exceed 5 m/s at the
operators position.
o Other meteorological conditions shall be such that they do not influence the measurements.
o The driver perceived ambient noise level due to wind or other source of noise shall be at least 10 dB(A) below the
noise level of the tractor.

If a vehicle is used for measurements, it shall be towed or driven at sufficient distance from the tractor to avoid all
interference. During measurements no object interfering with the measurements or reflective surfaces may be located with
in 20m of each side of the test track and less than 20m to the front or rear of the tractor. This condition can be
considered fulfilled if the variation in noise level is with in the tolerance error; if not measurement shall be discontinued
for the duration of interference.

All measurements on the given series shall be carried out on the same track

All readings of the sound level meter shall be taken with the time weighting S.

 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
The microphone shall be located 250 20 mm to the side of the centre plane of the seat, the side being that on
which the higher level of noise is encountered. The axis of microphone shall be horizontal and the microphone
diaphragm shall face forward and centre of microphone shall be 700 20 mm above the seat index point (as
defined in IS 11113:1999/ ISO 5353: 1995) and 100 20 mm forward of that point. Excessive vibration of
microphone shall be avoided.

The tractor shall travel along the same section at the same test speed at least three times for at least 10 seconds.

 All openings (e.g. Doors, windows) in tractors having a closed series produced cab structure shall be closed during
an initial series of measurements.

During a second series of measurements they shall be left open, provided that when open they do not create a road
safety hazard, but fold-down or fold-up windscreens shall remain closed.

Noise shall be measured at the maximum rpm using slow sound level metre response i.e. in the gear giving the
speed nearest to 7.5 kmph at the rated rpm. The tractor shall be unladen when measurements are being made.

 NOISE MEASUREMENT AT BY STANDERS POSITION

Ref [5]
CONDITIONS OF MEASUREMENT

Measurements shall be made on unladen tractors in a sufficiently silent and open area (ambient noise
and wind noise at least 10 dB (A) below the noise being measured).

This area may take the form, for instance, of an open space of 50 metre radius having a central part
of at least 20 metres radius which is practically level; it may be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, or
similar material and may not be covered with powdery snow, tall grass, loose soil or ashes.

The surface of the test track shall be such as not to cause excessive tyre noise. This condition applies
only to measurement of the noise made by tractors in motion.

Meteorological Conditions
o The test shall not be carried out in adverse weather conditions which are likely to affect the measurements.
o The wind velocity measured at 1.2 m above ground level shall not exceed an average value of 5 m/s average
over a 30 s period, or a maximum value of 8 m/s during the test period.
o For wind speeds in excess of 1 m/s, a microphone windscreen shall be used; appropriate compensation for the
effects of its use shall be allowed for in the calibration

No person other than the observer taking the readings from the apparatus may remain near the tractor or the
microphone, as the presence of spectators near either the tractor or the microphone may considerably affect the
readings from the apparatus. Marked fluctuations of the pointer which appear to be unrelated to the
characteristics of the general sound level shall be ignored in taking readings.

Conditions of Agricultural Tractor

o The Agricultural Tractor being tested shall comply with the manufacturers specifications and shall be operated in
accordance with published instructions. It shall be unladen and unballasted and, except in the case of non-separable
machines, be without trailer or semi-trailer.
o Immediately before the test, the engine shall be brought to its normal operating temperatures.
o If the Agricultural Tractor is fitted with more than two-wheel drive. It shall be tested in the drive which is intended for
normal road use.
o The Agricultural Tractor shall be fitted with tyres in accordance with the manufacturers specifications. The tyres shall
not be more than 50 % worn.

o During the test, only those components required for operation on the track shall be in operation.

 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
At least two measurements shall be made on each side of the tractor. Preliminary measurements may be made for
adjustment purposes but shall be disregarded.
The microphone shall be situated 1.2 metres above ground level at a distance of 7.5 metres from the path of the
tractors centre line, CC, measured along the perpendicular PP to that line.
Two lines AA and BB, parallel to line PP and situated respectively 10 metres forward and 10 metres rearward of the
line, shall be marked out on the test track. Tractors shall approach line AA at a steady speed, as specified below. The
throttle shall then be fully opened as rapidly as practicable and held in the fully opened position until the rear of
the tractor crosses line BB; the throttle shall then be closed again as rapidly as possible.
The maximum sound level recorded shall constitute the result of the measurement.
The test speed shall be three-quarters of the maximum speed which can be attained in the highest gear used for road
movement

1. Tractor drivers and bystanders noise exposure in different

engine speeds and gears

Ref [2]

This study was done to investigate the noise level produced by M-650 Romanian tractor in both stationary
and mobile states in two positions of the driver's ear and the bystanders. It was conducted in Shahid Bahonar
university of Kerman, Iran, in 2011.

The features of Romanian tractor (M-650) used for the study

 Engine speeds of 850 and 1700 rotations per minute was selected.
Measuring noise level in both positions of the driver's right ear and that of bystanders was done.

To measure the noise level at the driver's right ear position, a sound-measuring microphone was inserted within 25
cm from the ear.
To measure the noise level in the bystanders position, a sound-measuring microphone was inserted in the driver's left
side within 10 meters from Commencement Centre (CC) and within 7.5 meters from central line (the centre of the
axes of the tractor's tires) and at a height 1.2 meters from the ground.
The noise level around the tractor (in engine speeds of 850 and 1700 rpm) in stationary state was measured.
The sound-measuring device was inserted within 50 cm from the tires' axes, parallel to the ground, in front, rear, right
and left sides of the driver and at a height of 50 cm.
Measuring was also done in the position of exhaust pipe within 20 cm from it. The angle between sound-measuring
microphone and the vertical axes of exhaust was selected 45 degrees.

Results
The average noise level in the surroundings of Romanian tractor in fix state in different engine speeds
(without the use of splitting gear)

Results of frequency analysis in the position of tractor's Exhaust emissions in fixed state in the selected
engine speeds

The average noise level in different gears and engine speeds in the position of the driver's right ear
in moving tractor

The average noise level in different gear and engine speeds of moving tractor in the bystanders
position

Difference in average noise level in different gears and engine speeds in the position of the driver's ear
and bystanders for the moving tractor

Results of frequency analysis in the driver's ear position in different gears for the engine speed of 850 rpm of the
moving tractor

Results of frequency analysis in the driver's ear position in different gears for the engine speed of 1700 rpm of the
moving tractor

Conclusions
Position near the exhaust had the highest noise exposure and an increase in engine speed from 850 rpm to
1700 rpm led to an increase in noise for the drivers ear from an average of 5.8 to 9.3dB and for the
bystanders from an average of 2.3 to 10.3dB.

The mean sound level at lower frequencies was higher than middle and high frequencies

When the tractor is moving, at 850 rpm the drivers exposure to noise in all gears is less than standard, but at
1700 rpm the noise level is higher than the ACGIH standard and controlling measures seems to be necessary

[1]

I.H Celen, S Arin Noise levels of Agricultural Tractors Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
6(19): 1706-1711, 2003 ISSN 1028-8880

[2]

Monazzam M. R. PhD, Nadri F. MSc, Khanjani N. PhD, Ghotbi Ravandi M. R. PhD, Nadri H. BSc, Barsam T.
MSc, Shamsi M. PhD, Akbari H. MSc, Akbari H. MSc Tractor drivers and bystanders noise
exposure in
different engine speeds and gears - Iranian Journal of Military Medicine Summer 2012, Volume 14, Issue 2;
149-154

[3]

Yadav, P., Gaikwad, A., Badgujar, S., Y. V. Surkutwar, N. V. Karanth - "Noise Reduction on Agricultural
Tractor," SAE Technical Paper 2013-26-0103

[4]

AIS-115 (Part 1) , Driver-Perceived Noise Level of Agricultural Tractors - Method of Measurement

[5]

AIS-115 (Part 2) , Permissible Sound Level at Bystander of Agricultural Tractors - Method of Measurement