Advanced Finite Element Model Development for Characterization and Mitigation of Bone Conducted Sound Transmission in High Noise Environments

Improved understanding of mechanisms controlling bone conduction (BC) sound transmission, especially with respect to acoustic excitation, is urgently needed in order to develop more effective hearing protection in extremely high noise fields. The Phase I research program made great progress toward this goal by yielding new insights into a mechanism believed to be a significant contributor to BC sound transmission. This has been achieved through FE simulation modeling in conjunction with bioacoustic experiments using human cadaver temporal bone specimens, as well as with a psychoacoustic experiment. Phase II research will continue to build upon and extend the Phase I research methodologies and tools in order to obtain a more complete understanding of vibro-acoustic mechanisms that affect BC sound transmission. Furthermore, based on the improved knowledge of BC sound transmission obtained during Phase I, several potential approaches for controlling a specific BC mechanism have been proposed. The performance characteristics of the BC sound mitigation approaches will be investigated using the developed research tools. One mitigation approach judged to be the most effective and practically feasible will be implemented into a prototype to be tested psycho-acoustically using actual subjects.