Faculty of Engineering,Science and Mathematics
INSTITUTE OF SOUND AND VIBRATION RESEARCH
MSc Sound and Vibration Studies Year: 2007-08



 

 
Module Specification

 


 
Unit/Module Code: Module Title:
ISVR6041 Human Responses to Vibration


 
1. Basic Information
 
School responsible for the module ISVR  
Programme MSc Sound and Vibration Studies  ; also available to MPhil/PhD students registered in ISVR, also available to fee-paying external persons
Timetable Semester 2
Session 2007-08
Credit Value 10 CAT points (= 100 hours) Level M
Pre-requisites None  
Co-requisites None  
Module Lecturers Dr M Morioka
Prof M J Griffin
Dr Y Qiu
 
Contact M.Morioka@soton.ac.uk  
Formal Contact Hours Lectures and tutorials = 24 hours  
Private Study Hours 24 hours assignments; up to 50 hours other (including own study time)  
Coursework Four assignments   
External Examiner Professor K V Horoshenkov   
Last Approved    
Last Revision 30/09/2007   
Programme Web Site    
 
 
2. Description
 
2.1 Aims
 
 
  • To introduce you to human responses to vibration and how they can be predicted from measurements of vibration exposure.
    •

 
2.2 Objectives (teaching)
 

 
  • To identify relevant physical, physiological and psychological variables and how they can be combined to make quantitative predications of human responses to oscillatory motion (vibration, repeated shock, low frequency oscillation).
    •
 
2.3 Objectives (planned learning outcomes)
 
  Knowledge and understanding
  Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:
  • Outline the effects of whole-body vibration (i.e., perception, comfort, motion sickness, performance, and health) and hand-transmitted vibration (i.e. vibration induced white finger and other injuries), identifying independent- and dependent- variables associated with the effects.
  • Identify means of quantifying human responses to vibration (via buildings, transport, machinery, tools, etc.) using the relevant standards.
  • Recognise dose-response relationships in humans and associated risks caused by human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration.
    •
 
 
  Cognitive (thinking) skills
  Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:
  • Understand and critically assess the assumptions inherent in methods of measuring, evaluating and assessing human response to vibration with reference to current national and international standards.
  • Integrate knowledge of human responses to vibration into practical applications.
    •
 
  Practical, subject-specific skills
  Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:
  • Measure the whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration to which people are exposed.
  • Evaluate the whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration to which people are exposed.
  • Assess the severity of exposures to whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration.
  • Recognise means of minimising/preventing undesirable effects of whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration.
    •
 
 
  Key transferable skills
  Having successfully completed the module, you will be better able to:
  • Evaluate human responses to environmental factors.
  • Contribute confidently and appropriately to discussions on similar topics.
  • Use health standards related to hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration.
  • Discuss vibration issues in a multi-disciplinary environment.
  • Assess risk based on technical knowledge and legal requirements. 
    •
 
2.4 Teaching and Learning Activities
 
  Teaching methods include
 
  Twelve double lectures over four consecutive days.

Lecturers and assistants available to assist students work through the individual exercises (assignments) provided. Discussion takes place during each lecture. One formal tutorial session is allocated during the course programme. 

  
 
  Learning activities include
 
  Four formal assignments selected from six (about 2000 words each) that are submitted 6 to 8 weeks after completion of the course. The assignments cover the main areas of the subject matter. You will be expected to cite and reference supporting texts.   
 
2.5 Methods of Assessment (summative assessment)
 
 
      Assessment Methods Number % contribution to final mark Comment
      Assignments  4  100   

 
 
2.6 Feedback to students during module study (formative assessment)
 
 
  • Tutorial assistance to cover issues arising through coursework.
  • Discussion during lectures
 
 
2.7 Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods
 
  The assignments test student ability to apply their knowledge of the subject. Each of the six questions consists of 3 to 4 sub-questions ordered with increasing complexity of learning outcomes ranging from knowing and understanding to thinking. Some of the questions are based on case studies in order to encourage you to integrate knowledge into practical applications.  
 
3. TOPICS COVERED
 
  1. Principles of the measurement and evaluation of human vibration exposures.
2. Standards, limits and criteria for whole-body vibration.
3. Health effects of whole-body vibration.
4. Effects of whole-body vibration on activities.
5. Discomfort produced by whole-body vibration.
6. Vehicle ride evaluation.
7. Vibration thresholds.
8. Building vibration.
9. Biodynamics.
10. Seating dynamics.
11. Health effects of hand-transmitted vibration.
12. Epidemiology of disorders associated with hand-transmitted vibration.
13. Diagnosis of disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration.
14. Standards, limits and criteria for hand-arm vibration.
15. Measurement and evaluation of hand-tool vibration.
16. Causes of motion sickness in marine, land and air transport.
17. Preventative measures for whole-body and hand-arm vibration.
 
4. RESOURCES
 
  Core Texts
  AUTHORS TITLE/EDITION/DATE PUBLISHER UNI. LIB Class Mark E.J. Richards Library
1. M J Griffin Handbook of Human Vibration, 1990 Academic Press
0123030404		 TA355 GRI
5 loan		 1 ref

 
  Secondary Texts
  AUTHORS TITLE/EDITION/DATE PUBLISHER UNI. LIB Class Mark E.J. Richards Library
1. None.        

 
 
  Other library support
 
  The ISVR E J Richards Library houses a specialist collection relating to vibration.   
 
  Staff required
 
  Three lecturers assisted by research fellows.   
 
  Teaching space, layout and equipment required
 
  A lecture room with 15 to 30 seats is required for four days in one week. The room should be equipped with a data projector, overhead projection facilities, and blackboard or whiteboard.   
 
  Laboratory space required
 
  Visits to the Human Factors Research Unit motion simulation laboratory for demonstrations of motion simulators and practical methods.   
 
  Computer requirements
 
  A computers will be required to work on your assignment. Access to Blackboard is also required to obtain course handouts and relevant reading materials.   
 
  Software requirements
 
  None.   
 
  Off-campus activities
 
  None.   
 
  Part-time/distance learning students
 
  Support via e-mail and discussion board of Blackboard available.   
 
  Other
 
  A list of useful websites is provided.