Sound System Simulates the Roar of a Rocket Launch 113
retroworks writes "Located in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and part of ESA's ESTEDC Test Center, is the Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF), a sound amplification system 'powerful enough to kill a human being.' LEAF is capable of generating more than 154 decibels, the sound equivalent to standing next to several jets taking off. It is used to blast satellites and spacecraft with sound. Large horns are housed in a sound-proofed room that is 16.4meters tall. One wall of horns stands 11 m wide by 9 m deep and 16.4 m high. LEAF requires all the doors to be closed, operating in steel-reinforced concrete walls to contain the noise. The walls are coated with an epoxy resin to reflect noise, producing a uniform sound field within the chamber."
Re:Questions not addressed in the summary (Score:5, Informative)
Given that the volume can kill a person ...
Can it really? They say it is as loud as several jets taking off. I have been on aircraft carriers where the flight crews were in close proximity to jets taking off, and none of them died as a result of that. According to this chart [purdue.edu] noise around 150dB can rupture an eardrum in someone wearing no hearing protection. Ruptured eardrums are rarely fatal.
Re: Questions not addressed in the summary (Score:4, Informative)
Having experienced the Notting Hill Carnivan, I can totally believe this...the sound systems they have on the floats are so loud I found it quite difficult to even breath and started to make me feel sick. They're powered by quite big generators on the floats themselves....quite nuts.
The floats/etc were a bit boring, imo. My wife and I didn't stay long.
I find that they can reach 140db: http://www.theinformationdaily... [theinformationdaily.com]