Journal of Material Sciences & Engineering

Vibration Study in Human-Car Seat System: Overview and a Novel Simulation Technique

Abstract

Purnendu Mondal and Arunachalam S

This paper will propose a complete solution with a novel simulation set up to get the final vibration data of seated human body inside an automobile structure without carrying out measurement tests. Furthermore, it will improve the existing technology in assessing the dynamic interaction between the human body and a car seat subjected to different conditions and establish a clear idea about the vibration effects, vibration transmissibility, damping, variable stiffness, natural frequencies, modal analysis, random vibration, harmonic aspects, mode superposition, response spectrum, transient effects etc. The research will provide a novel solution of the entire system rather than focussing only on a very specific portion of the system, thus, trying to close the gap in present technological areas and omitting the time consuming and expensive testing methods in the modern industries. This research will contribute a cutting edge landmark by providing a simulation model to predict final vibration level inside the human body and car seat to avoid the time consuming and expensive testing methods. It will help better understanding the impact and estimation of the vibration level inside the car seat and occupant human body.

The non-linear dynamic aspects and efforts will be made to understand, characterize and optimize the level of vibration by establishing a computational simulations model of the car seat and the occupant to match the experimental results.

Some technologies have been achieved to judge the dynamic interaction between the human body and a car seat, though such technologies cover only either vibration effects or dynamics or measurement techniques or small portion of the car and human body without considering all the real life factors like pre-stressed bodies, variable stiffness, equivalent stiffness and damping factors based on the behaviour of the human muscles, bones and postures.

So, efforts will be made to establish numerical and simulation models for the non-linear bio-dynamics of the seated human body, polyurethane foam cushions, dynamic contacts between the human body and the seat, occupant under the real life car motion, vibration testing of the car seat and finally, to provide a comprehensive solution to judge the vibration levels, which eventually will lead the various industries to avoid the time consuming and expensive testing methods.