Unique Finite Element Modelling of Human Body Inside Accelerating Car to Predict Accelerations and Frequencies at Different Human Segments

Purnendu Mondal,Subramaniam Arunachalam

doi:10.3390/app10051861

Abstract

The comfort level of the human occupant inside a dynamic vehicle is dependent on the level of vibration generated inside the different segments of the human body. Some technologies have been developed to provide the final level of vibration inside an automotive-seated human, but those technologies considered only a specific portion of human segments. In the present work, a unique and comprehensive finite element simulation model was proposed to predict the final level of vibration at different segments of a seated human driver inside a moving car. The main aim of this unique simulation methodology was to replace the time-consuming and expensive real life vibration testing for a car-seated human body, with a non-robust and correctly postured virtual human model in a finite element environment. The output of this research work focused on the vertical accelerations, vertical displacement, and frequency, and the results obtained from this research work were validated through comparison to real life test data and information provided in other similar research works. The validation study showed that this unique simulation methodology can successfully be implemented to anticipate accelerations and frequencies at different points of a car-seated human body in order to optimize human health, comfort, and safety.

Highlights

Computer-based simulation processes and numerical methods have been developed over recent years on different segments of automotive structure and human occupant to assess, measure, monitor, and characterize the level of vibration and its effect on humans
Simulation research work on the entire vehicle dynamics [1] clearly states that because of the high costs involved in the real life development of a new vehicle, CAE (Computer Aided Engineering)-based simulation methodologies for the vehicle dynamics and vibration are gaining more importance in the automotive development process
As this research work aimed to focus on the vibration in the vertical direction, the vertical acceleration responses at head, chest, upper arm, lower arm, waist, thigh, and legs were evaluated from the results

Summary

Introduction

Computer-based simulation processes and numerical methods have been developed over recent years on different segments of automotive structure and human occupant to assess, measure, monitor, and characterize the level of vibration and its effect on humans. On the basis of the aspects of investigation, generally lumped mass parameter, finite element, or multi-body method is used to evaluate the vibration and frequency levels, each of the methods has its own pros and cons. Numerous combinations of input parameters, segments of interest, and output data can be considered for the automotive-seated human body; depending on the nature of the research, only specific parameters and portions are considered. A bio-dynamic model using a numerical algorithm of seated human [2] considered two numbers of four DOF (Degree/s of Freedom) models and one number of seven DOF model and on the basis of the optimized parameters such as frequency, damping co-efficient, and stiffness, the range of vibration transmissibility was evaluated.

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Conclusion