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Library / Vibration exposure / VIB-11

Vibration exposure

Remaining time to an exposure value with prior dose

Time still available at a constant weighted level before the daily exposure reaches a target, once part of the day has already been used.

Ref
VIB-11
Rev
v1
Field
Vibration exposure
Result
Trem [h]

If part of the day’s exposure has already been used, Aprior(8), the time still available on an axis at a constant weighted level is Trem = T0 max(0, Atarget² − Aprior²)/(k aw)², with T0 = 8 h. Exposures add as squares, so a high earlier dose uses up the remaining time quickly. The result is zero if the target has already been reached. Take the shortest time across axes with a non-zero ongoing exposure; a zero ongoing level contributes no further dose on that axis.

Time still available at a constant weighted level before the daily exposure reaches a target, once part of the day has already been used. Exposures add as squares, so a high earlier dose uses up the remaining time quickly.

Calculator

Solve for
h
m/s²
0.21.5
m/s²
01.5
11.4
m/s²
0.13
  • Time from zero prior dose (no earlier exposure)8.744 h
  • Share of the target already used (by squares)18.9 %

What drives the result

Each variable is moved across its typical range while the others stay at the values above. The longest bar is the key driver.

Remaining time (h) current value 7.091 h
awWeighted RMS accelerationKey driver
0.953858
AtargetTarget daily exposure
013.2
ApriorExposure already accumulated
08.74
kAxis multiplier
3.62
  • With 0.5 m/s² already accumulated and a limit of 1.15 m/s², there are 7.091 h left at 1.1 m/s². Without the earlier dose the figure would be 8.744 h; only 18.9 % of the squared budget is used, which costs 18.9 % of the time.
  • If the prior dose were 1.0 m/s², only 2.132 h would remain. A dose of 1.15 m/s² or more leaves 0 h.
Chart data as tables

Ranked variables

VariableTypical rangeLowest resultHighest resultSwing (h)Local stepChange in result
aw Weighted RMS acceleration0.1 to 3 m/s²0.9533858857+10%−17.4 %
Atarget Target daily exposure0.2 to 1.5 m/s²013.2213.22+10%+25.9 %
Aprior Exposure already accumulated0 to 1.5 m/s²08.7448.744+10%−4.9 %
k Axis multiplier1 to 1.4 3.6187.0913.473+10%−17.4 %

Sweep of Weighted RMS acceleration

Weighted RMS acceleration (m/s²)Remaining time (h)
0.1858
0.462540.11
0.82512.61
1.1886.084
1.553.571
1.9132.346
2.2751.658
2.6381.233
30.9533

Sweep one variable

Remaining time (h)Hover, touch, or use the arrow keys on the chart
0200400600800 0.511.522.53 Weighted RMS acceleration (m/s²) now 7.091

Variables and how each one contributes

Trem

Remaining time

Result · h

What the equation gives you. Everything else feeds it.

Atarget

Target daily exposure

m/s² · typical 0.2 to 1.5

The target daily exposure value, in m/s²: for example 0.5 or 1.15. Raises the remaining time, with the square of the target minus the squared prior dose. Raising it by 10 % (to 1.265) moves the result by +25.9 %, from 7.091 to 8.927 h.

Aprior

Exposure already accumulated

m/s² · typical 0 to 1.5

The daily exposure already accumulated before this period, in m/s² A(8). Lowers the remaining time; the effect grows as the prior dose approaches the target. Raising it by 0.1 m/s² (to 0.6 m/s²) moves the result by −10.3 %, from 7.091 to 6.364 h.

k

Axis multiplier

· typical 1 to 1.4

The axis multiplier: 1.4 for x and y, 1.0 for z. Lowers the remaining time with the square of the multiplier. Raising it by 0.1 (to 1.1) moves the result by −17.4 %, from 7.091 to 5.86 h.

aw

Weighted RMS acceleration

m/s² · typical 0.1 to 3

The weighted RMS acceleration on the axis for the remaining period, in m/s². Lowers the remaining time with the square of the level. Raising it by 10 % (to 1.21) moves the result by −17.4 %, from 7.091 to 5.86 h.

Worked example with the values above

  1. Squares: Atarget² − Aprior² = 1.322 − 0.25 = 1.072.
  2. Divide by (k aw)² = 1.21 and multiply by 8 h.
  3. Trem = 7.091 h.

Assumptions and limits

  • A constant weighted RMS on one axis for the remaining period, with the earlier dose measured as A(8) on the same axis.
  • These are arithmetic times, not guaranteed symptom-free operating times.

Common mistakes

  • Subtracting Aprior from Atarget directly instead of subtracting their squares.
  • Assuming a rest period reduces the dose already accumulated.

Statistics and uncertainty

Both the earlier dose and the ongoing level carry uncertainty of ±10 % or more. Because prior dose enters as a square, the remaining time is least certain when the prior dose is close to the target, where a small error in Aprior changes the answer a lot.

Where it is used

  • Planning the rest of a driver’s shift after an earlier task has built up exposure.
  • Deciding how long a vehicle can continue on a rough route.

Maths you need

  • Daily exposure A(8): normalised to eight hours
  • Adding as squares: independent exposures combine in quadrature

Related formulas

Practise this formula