Whole-body vibration: Characterization of seat-to-head transmissibility for agricultural tractor drivers during loader operation

Abstract

The research is aimed at how the tractor drivers respond to whole-body vibrations (WBV) during real-field loader operation. Seat-to-head transmissibility (STHT) behavior of tractor drivers is characterized to examine the impact of WBV. Tractor with a mounted loader was driven by nine (9) male tractor drivers during the experiment. The vibration levels were tested along three translational axes at the seat pan and the head. This study developed an Internet of Things (IoT) module for online data transmission to increase the efficiency of experimentation by eliminating potential causes of experimenter error. The data were examined using weighted root mean square acceleration (Aw), daily exposure A (8), signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios, power spectral density (PSD), and STHT. The vertical (z) axis dominated vibration exposure levels at the seat pan and head. A(8) response was measured to be greater than the exposure action value limit of 0.5 m/s2 as specified by Directive 2002/44/EU. PSDs at the head and seat pan showed low-frequency dominating frequencies. In the 4–7 Hz and 8–12 Hz frequency bands, respectively, STHT showed primary and secondary resonance. Tractor designers and manufacturers could use the research's findings to reduce high vibration amplitudes and important resonance frequencies to enhance the tractor ride.