The Simulation of the Whole-Body Vibration Experienced During Military Land Transit

Abstract

The simulation of field-based exposures, such as the random whole-body vibration (WBV) experienced during periods of military land transit, in a laboratory setting, allows for greater control over potentially confounding factors. This paper describes a method used to simulate the WBV experienced during military land transit. Acceleration data were collected during military transit. These data were used as the command signal to control a 6 degree-of-freedom Stewart platform. The accelerations of the Stewart platform were then compared to the measured military transit accelerations to validate the approach. Our analysis identified moderate accuracy in the 0–3 Hz frequency range for both simulations. The sealed road simulation demonstrated 17, 25, and 8% error and the cross-country simulation, 4, 7, and 4% error in the x, y, and z-axes, respectively. Outside of this frequency range, the error was ≤ 2%. The accurate simulation of the mechanical WBV experienced during periods of motorised military land transit will allow future laboratory-based studies to explore the impact of these forces on Australian Defence Force personnel.