The effect of the magnitude of vertical vibration on the dynamic response of the seated human body has been investigated. Eight male subjects were exposed to random vibration in the 0.5 to 20 Hz frequency range at five magnitudes: 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 r.m.s. The dynamic responses of the body were measured at eight locations: at the first, fifth, and tenth thoracic vertebrae (T1, T5, T10), at the first, third, and fifth lumbar vertebrae (L1, L3, L5) and at the pelvis (the posterior-superior iliac spine). At each location, the motions on the body surface were measured in the three orthogonal axes within the sagittal plane (i.e., the vertical, fore-and-aft, and pitch axes). The force at the seat surface was also measured. Frequency response functions (i.e., transmissibilities and apparent mass) were used to represent the responses of the body. Non-linear characteristics were observed in the apparent mass and in the transmissibilities to most measurement locations. Resonance frequencies in the frequency response functions decreased with increases in the vibration magnitude (e.g. for the vertical transmissibility to L3, a reduction from 6.25 to 4.75 Hz when the vibration magnitude increased from 0.125 to 2.0 r.m.s.). The transmission of vibration within the spine also showed some evidence of a non-linear characteristic. It can be concluded from this study that the dynamic responses of seated subjects are clearly non-linear with respect to vibration magnitude, whereas previous studies have reported inconsistent conclusions. More understanding of the dependence on vibration magnitude of both the dynamic responses of the soft tissues of the body and the muscle activity (voluntary and involuntary) is required to identify the causes of the non-linear characteristics observed in this study.
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October 2002
Technical Papers
Non-Linear Characteristics in the Dynamic Responses of Seated Subjects Exposed to Vertical Whole-Body Vibration
Yasunao Matsumoto, Research Associate,,
Yasunao Matsumoto, Research Associate,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Ohkubo, Urawa, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
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Michael J. Griffin, Professor
Michael J. Griffin, Professor
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, England
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Yasunao Matsumoto, Research Associate,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Ohkubo, Urawa, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
Michael J. Griffin, Professor
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, England
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING. Manuscript received March 2000; revised manuscript received May 2002. Associate Editor: M. G. Pandy.
J Biomech Eng. Oct 2002, 124(5): 527-532 (6 pages)
Published Online: September 30, 2002
Article history
Received:
March 1, 2000
Revised:
May 1, 2002
Online:
September 30, 2002
Citation
Matsumoto, Y., and Griffin, M. J. (September 30, 2002). "Non-Linear Characteristics in the Dynamic Responses of Seated Subjects Exposed to Vertical Whole-Body Vibration ." ASME. J Biomech Eng. October 2002; 124(5): 527–532. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1499959
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