Experimental rig for human-vibration study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the plausibility of calibrating an industrial shaking table that was designed for civil engineering purposes into a viable method for simulating occupational vibration realistically so that it can be used to test the effect of occupational vibration on humans. A pilot study was conducted with the shaking table was divided into five sections and the vibration at each section was measured to determine the frequency of the vibration, the acceleration of the vibration and also the vibration dose value. The result for the output frequency of vibration was then compared to the input frequency set on the control panel to ascertain the relationship between both. It was discovered that there was a linear relationship between the input frequency setting and the actual vibration frequency measured on the shaking table, the strongest transfer of energy was in central region of the shaking table. This relationship can be expressed using a linear relationship function. The results obtained were then compared to whole body vibration frequency data from on site studies. It was discovered that the vibration of the shaking table were comparable to whole body vibration experienced in vehicles. The acceleration values of the shaking table vibration were also in the range of acceleration produced by occupational vibration of the vehicular type. A further case study was conducted using a bench to measure the transmission of vibration from the shaking table to objects, in this case a bench, placed on it. This case study used a bench as a simplification a car seat as the pilot test had shown the shaking table vibrates with similar parameters as vehicular vibration. Different materials were placed on the seat to determine whether these materials had any effect on the frequency of vibration. It was learnt that these seating materials often used by vehicle drivers did not have any significant effect on the vibration. This study has shown that the shaking table is capable of simulating occupational vibration similar to whole body vibration caused by vehicles and has further allowed the calibration of the shaking table.