Physiological signal analyses of frictional sound by structural parameters of warp knitted fabrics

The purpose of this study is to offer acoustical database of warp knitted fabrics by investigating frictional sound properties and physiological responses according to structural parameters such as construction, lap form, and direction of mutual guide bar movement. Fabric sounds of seven warp knitted fabrics are recorded, and Zwicker’s psychoacoustic parameters — loudness(Z), sharpness(Z), roughness(Z), and fluctuation strength(Z) — are calculated. Also, physiological responses evoked by frictional sounds of warp knitted fabrics are measured such as electroencephalogram (EEG), the ratio of high frequency to low frequency (HF/LF), respiration rate (RESP), skin conductance level (SCL), and photoplethysmograph (PPG). In case of constructions, frictional sound of sharkskin having higher loudness(Z) and fluctuation strength(Z) increases RESP. By lap form, open lap has louder and larger fluctuating sound than closed lap, but there aren’t significant difference of physiological responses between open lap and closed lap. In direction of mutual guide bar movement, parallel direction evokes bigger changes of beta wave than counter direction because of its loud, rough, and fluctuating sound. Fluctuation strength(Z) and roughness(Z) are defined as important factors for predicting physiological responses in construction and mutual guide bar movement, respectively.