Title: Three-dimensional vibration transmission through the upper limb when performing reaching movements in vehicle

Authors: Heon-Jeong Kim; Bernard Martin

Addresses: Algorithm Development and Application Group, Occupant Safety Engineering, TRW Automotive Farmington Hills, MI 48335, USA ' Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA

Abstract: Whole body vibration (WBV) transmission to vehicle occupants is a function of both vibration characteristics and human posture/movement. The majority of earlier studies investigating biomechanical responses to WBV have considered only a static posture. However, vibration transmission can be affected by dynamic movements when reaching in vehicle and may be transmitted in three-dimension (3D). This study investigates vibration transmission to the upper extremities with changes in posture/movement along the intended reach trajectory under selected sinusoidal WBV conditions. In biodynamic WBV experiments, 21 subjects performed a reaching task to targets located in the right hemisphere under vibration exposure. Intermediate targets were also placed in the expected trajectories of hand movements. 3D biodynamic responses are characterised as a function of upper body posture. This study establishes the empirical database necessary to support a biodynamic model taking into consideration human activity to predict reaching performance under WBV exposure.

Keywords: human vibration; whole body vibration; WBV; 3D vibration transmission; upper body posture; vibration exposure; vehicle occupants; occupant movements; upper limbs; reaching movements; biodynamics; vehicle design; biodynamic models; digital human modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2012.051569

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2012 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.359 - 377

Received: 25 May 2012
Accepted: 20 Sep 2012
Published online: 29 Aug 2014 *

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