Multi-body Model Simulating Biodynamic Responseof the Seated Human under Whole-Body Vibration

Abstract

In this paper a multi-degree of freedom model simulating biodynamic response of the seated human body is presented. The model consists of three masses connected by linear springs and dampers. The unknown model parameters are identified by means of the proposed optimisation procedure that minimises the error between numerically simulated and experimentally measured transmissibility functions over the chosen frequency range. Although the model involves significant simplifications due to the complexity of the human body system, very promising results are obtained for different directions of the vibration exposure, i.e. longitudinal x-direction, lateral y-direction and vertical z-direction. For this reason, the model can be easily implemented for modelling and simulating many problems related to the vibration safety of drivers and operators of working machines.