Can race car sound break windows

Sound from a special class of race cars was cited as cause for sudden breakage of a large pane of tempered glass in a private box that fell and injured a spectator below. Analysis of previously recorded race track noise from a similar track in Minnesota showed that sound levels could exceed the Hubbard rattle criteria but no conclusions could be drawn regarding breakage. Because of time constraints, sound level measurements from a race in Ohio of this vehicle class were taken by Campanella Associates for reference. Those measurements were compared with previously measured levels of other vehicle classes and found to be higher at some frequencies. Since a recorded demonstration performed by the plaintiff showed breakage of a similar pane of glass with an induced flaw and continuously applied sound at 70 to 80 Hz, a field test on a similar window with simulated sound levels based upon measurements from the special vehicle class race was performed with assistance from Synergistic Design Associates. A simulat...