Title: The contribution of seat components to seat hardness and the interface between human occupant and a driver seat

Authors: Gunther Paul; Jonathan Pendlebury; Jason Miller

Addresses: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Rd., Kelvin Grove Qld 4059, Australia ' Ford Motor Company Australia, P.O. Box 14, Geelong Vic 3220, Australia ' Futuris Automotive Interiors Pty Ltd, 80 Turner St., Port Melbourne Vic 3207, Australia

Abstract: Effective digital human model (DHM) simulation of automotive driver packaging ergonomics, safety and comfort depends on accurate modelling of occupant posture, which is strongly related to the mechanical interaction between human body soft tissue and flexible seat components. This paper comprises: a study investigating the component mechanical behaviour of a spring-suspended, production level seat when indented by SAE J826 type, human thigh-buttock model hard shell; a model of seated human buttock shape for improved indenter design using a multivariate representation of Australian population thigh-buttock anthropometry; and a finite-element study simulating the deflection of seat cushion foam, underlying suspension and the seat frame when loaded by a 95th percentile occupant. The results of the three studies provide a description of the mechanical properties of the driver-seat interface, and allow validation of future dynamic simulations, involving multi-body and finite-element (FE) DHM in virtual ergonomic studies.

Keywords: digital human modelling; DHM; seat design; foam deflection; virtual ergonomics; seat comfort; seat pressure; finite element method; FEM; driver posture; automotive ergonomics; seat suspension; automobile industry; seat components; seat hardness; vehicle occupants; human occupants; driver seating; indenter design; thighs; buttocks; anthropometry; simulation; deflection; driver-seat interface.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2012.051570

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2012 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.378 - 397

Received: 10 May 2012
Accepted: 03 Oct 2012
Published online: 29 Aug 2014 *

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