Effect of car speed on the transmission of vibration through the seat pan and backrest: field study

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of car speed on the vibration transmitted to the passenger through both the seat pan and backrest. Ten male subjects sat in the front passenger seat of a sedan car and were driven at three different speeds (60, 80 and 100 km/h). During each ride, the vibration dose value (VDV) was measured in the x, y and z-directions on the seat pan and at the backrest. The results showed an increase in the VDV in all directions with increasing the car speed. The VDVs at the backrest were found as high as, or even higher than, those measured on the seat depending on the speed and the measurement axis. Hence, it is recommended that vibration in road vehicles be assessed using more than one speed while taking into consideration measurement at the backrest.