M. Duarte M., A. das Neves F., C.G. Pereira C., Misael M., A. Freitas Filho L.

Understanding the effects of vibration on people is very important. However, a first step in that direction is to understand how the vibration levels can be obtained. This article compares the results obtained for the same type of experiment performed by two different laboratories in Brazil, one from the Group of Acoustics and Vibration of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the other from the Civil Engineering Department of the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP). They have used similar apparatus and methodology of tests. Basically, the signal processing performed to obtain the data that could be considered different. Both laboratories investigated the acceleration levels considering two distinct situations: Case A - the minimum levels of vibration the subject could feel (Perception Threshold) and Case B - the maximum levels of vibration that same subject could not feel. These are the error limits for the perception threshold levels, considered as another test. The comparison of the results shows that the results obtained from UFMG were, in general, smaller than the ones from UFOP, mainly due to the signal processing performed, since, although there was a longer duration for the whole test at UFMG, that was mainly due to the recording of the data, and not as much due to the duration of the test itself. Although only UFOP had considered the effect of posture during the tests, it can be concluded that the results are dependent on that parameter as well.