Biodynamic Model of the Seated Human Body under the Vertical Whole Body Vibration Exposure

Abstract

The seat-to-head transmissibility and apparent mass characteristics are measured for the seated human subjects exposed to vertical whole-body vibration in the 0.5-20 Hz frequency range at a vibration magnitude of 1.0 m/s2 rms. The experiments are conducted on test subjects seated in an upright posture. A biodynamic model has been developed for bio-mechanical parameters that are estimated on the basis of identified biodynamic responses. The parameters identification technique employs a genetic algorithm for the solution of the function comprising sum of squared magnitude and phase errors related with target values of seat-to-head transmissibility and apparent mass. The developed model presents the target values of magnitude associated with apparent mass and seat-to-head transmissibility. The natural frequencies of the model have been found at up to 5.0896 Hz. The model also presents the resonant frequencies calculated on the basis of both biodynamic response functions very close to that found for seated human body experimentally.