• Sound waves are mechanical vibrations that are audible—they fall in the frequency range that we can hear.
• Mechanical vibration (including sound) is a form of oscillating energy. These energy waves are characterized by their amplitude (strength—loudness in the case of sound) and frequency (the number of wave cycles/unit time—tone when describing sound).

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The term vibration isolation is used to refer to two situations. The first refers to the physical isolation of a person or object from a vibration source. The second is an engineering term that refers to a material’s ability to alter the frequency of a vibration. Both are important in controlling harmful vibration—both within and outside of the work environment.

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What is the tan delta for damping material? Tan delta is an abbreviated form of the term—Tangent of Delta. The tan delta quantifies the way in which a material absorbs and disperses energy. It expresses the out-of-phase time relationship between an impact force and the resultant force that is transmitted to the supporting body. Materials that effect the greatest phase shifts—approaching 90 degrees—have the highest tan delta values. These materials demonstrate the greatest capability to dissipate energy in a safe form—such as heat—at as close to 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the impact surface as possible. The tan delta is also known as the Loss Factor due to this loss of energy from the impact force via conversion to, and dispersal of, a safer form of energy. Thus, the tan delta is ultimately an indication of the effectiveness of a material’s damping capabilities. The higher the tan delta, the greater the damping coefficient, the more efficient the material will be in effectively accomplishing energy absorption and dispersal.

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• Mechanical vibrations that fall in the frequency range that we are capable of hearing are called sound, or sound waves.
• Mechanical vibration is a form of oscillating energy—comprised of forces of specific frequencies that are repeated in a cyclical fashion.
• When this oscillating energy impacts a body (of any kind), it is transferred at the point of impact, causing the back-and-forth or up-and-down motion known as vibration.
• Due to the fact that waves of energy cause vibration, it possesses an amplitude (wave strength) as well as a frequency (number of oscillations of the wave per second). Both of these characteristics must be controlled.
• High pressure mechanical vibration results when the vibration energy has a large amplitude (high strength). As a result, each vibratory impact delivers a high level force. 

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• An impact force is one that, at the point of impact—point of collision between bodies, delivers a shock wave of energy.
• This shock wave of energy, resulting from a high impact delivered over a relatively short time, is responsible for causing injury or damage to the impacted individuals or items.
• Adverse effects, such as damage or injury, occur as the energy of the impact force is transferred to the affected entity from the source of the impacting force.

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• When a high impact force is delivered across a relatively short time period, the result is shock.
• This energy shock wave causes damage or injury to effected items or individuals.
• These undesirable effects result from the transfer of shock energy from the source of the impact to the affected entity.

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• Shock is the result of delivering a relatively high impact force over a short time period.
• This shock wave of energy is responsible for causing injury or damage to the impacted individuals or items.
• Adverse effects, such as damage or injury, occur as the energy of the shock is transferred to the affected entity from the source of the impacting force.
• Damping is the absorption and safe dispersal of energy resulting in a decrease in amplitude (strength) of the energy wave, or a change in frequency. Energy is transformed to safer levels and/or frequencies.

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To avoid or eliminate the discomfort and medical maladies connected with these forces, you must find a shoe insole created with a material that will absorb damaging energy before it can cause pain or serious medical conditions. What is the best shoe insole material? Sorbothane®— the best energy absorbing material on the market—is the best shoe insole material.

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• Shock results when a relatively high impact force is delivered in a short amount of time.
• This shock wave of energy is responsible for causing injury or damage to the individuals or items on the receiving end of the shock wave.
• These adverse effects occur as the energy of the shock is transferred from the source of the impact force to the affected entity.
• Shock’s damaging effects, and how you can resist shock
• The transfer of damaging shock energy that originates from an impact force causes damage and injury.
• Shock will ultimately lead to rework, waste, and downtime.

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Damping can be defined as the dissipation of oscillating energy. Examples of oscillating energy include vibration, noise, and shock waves. Consider the case of vibration—an oscillating energy made up of cyclically repeated forces of specific frequencies. Vibration refers to the up and down or back and forth motion that is caused by the transferred energy originating from these forces. Because it is caused by waves of energy, vibration possesses both a frequency (oscillations—cycles per time unit) and an amplitude (strength). It is important to be able to control both attributes. 

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