On the Effects of Sampling Parameters When Surveying Distribution Vibrations

This paper presents the initial outcomes Of a study aimed at better understanding the effects of recording parameters on the outcomes of distribution surveys. With the advent of vibration recorders with increasing capacity, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of studies aimed at evaluating and characterizing the random vibrations generated by transport vehicles across a wide variety of distribution environments. Oftentimes, the sampling and recording parameters used in these studies are not given adequate attention, resulting in statistical estimates that are open to interpretation. The paper shows how the selection of the sampling and recording parameters can have significant effects on much used descriptors of random vibration processes such as the average power spectral density (PSD), the peak-hold PSD and the root mean square distribution. The paper shows that the results of vibration surveys are most sensitive to the sampling period, especially when the vibrations are highly non-stationary. The paper concludes by making specific recommendations for configuring high-capacity vibration recorders to ensure that vibration surveys yield statistically sound results. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.