Vibrations induced in wheeled equipment by curved protrusions on guide blocks for the visually impaired

Abstract

ABSTRACT The number of visually impaired people continues to increase as the global population grows and ages, making the provision of textured guide blocks on the floor surfaces of public spaces increasingly critical. However, these blocks can also be obstacles for people with walking difficulties, wheelchairs, luggage, strollers, and other wheeled equipment. This study experimentally measured the vibration levels generated when passing a wheeled bogie over various convex curved guide block protrusions. The curved shape characteristics that induced less vibration in wheeled equipment while still effectively guiding the visually impaired were subsequently identified. The results indicated that curved shapes with widths greater than 13.5 mm and heights less than 5.0 mm exhibited reduced maximum vibration levels compared to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) guide block. Even with a width and height matching those of the JIS block (27.0 mm and 5.0 mm, respectively), the curved shape induced less vibration. However, the maximum vibration level induced by the curved shape was greater than that induced by the JIS block when the height of the former was greater than 5.0 mm, regardless of width. Finally, the faster the bogie passing speed, the greater the maximum vibration level following an approximately linear relationship.