International Journal of Automotive Technology

The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (한국자동차공학회)
권호 표지

DESIGN GUIDELINE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF DYNAMIC COMFORT OF A VEHICLE SEAT AND ITS APPLICATION

  • JANG H.-K. (Institute for Advanced Engineering)
  • Published : 2005.06.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study proposes an innovative design guideline to assist the evaluation and improvement of the dynamic comfort of vehicle seating. The existing evaluation method for the comfort of vehicle seating was investigated to broach problems in evaluation. It was found that the currently existing evaluation method employs the resonance frequency of the vibration system composed of the seat and the human body and the maximum vibration transmissibility. This study proposes a design guideline aimed at the enhancement of vibration transmission characteristics above the resonance range, particularly within the range of 10-18 Hz. In order to meet this guideline, a seat was constructed out of foam having a low damping coefficient. It was then installed in a vehicle for a driving test. The driving test confirmed the improvement of the dynamic comfort of the seat. The result of evaluation of the improved seat using the SEAT index, an industry standard widely used to evaluate the dynamic comfort of a seat considering the perceptivity characteristics of the human body, showed that the perceptive vibration transmission had reduced by more than $11\%$. The effect of the modification of seat foam was also verified through a subjective assessment of dynamic comfort of the seats.

Keywords

References

  1. Brunning, A. D. and Day, A. J. (1997). Customer perception of in vehicle comfort. Proceedings of the UK Group Meeting on Human Response to Vibration, ISVR, University of Southampton, Paper No. 32
  2. Cavender, K. D. and Kineklaar, M. R. (1996). Real time dynamic comfort and performance factors of polyurethane foam in automotive seating. SAE Paper No. 960509
  3. Cho, Y. G., Park, S. J. and Yoon, Y. S. (2000). Human response measurement and ride quality evaluation for seats having various material properties. Trans. Korean Society of Automotive Engineers 8, 3, 171-180
  4. Crocco, G. D., Kineklaar M. R. and Neal, B. L. (1998). The influence of polyurethane foam dynamics on the vibration isolation character of full foam seating. SAE Paper No. 980567
  5. Goldsheyder, D. and Willems, B. (1996). Effect of operator seat design on vibration exposure. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 57, 837-842 https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119691014521
  6. Griffin, M. J. (1990). Handbook of Human Vibration. Academic Press. London
  7. ISO 2631-1 (1997). Mechanical Vibration and ShockEvaluation of Human Exposure to Whole-body Vibration. International Organization for Standardization. Geneva
  8. Jang, H.-K. (2001). Survey on development of high comfort vehicle seat. J. Korean Society of Automotive Engineers 23, 5, 48-59
  9. JASO B407-87 (1987). Test Code of Seating Comfort for Automobile Seats. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. Tokyo
  10. Kinkelaar, M. R., Neal, B. L. and Crocco, G. (1998). The influence of polyurethane foam dynamics on the vibration isolation character of full foam seats. SAE Paper No. 980657
  11. Stikeleather, L. F., Hall, G. O. and Radke, A. O. (1972). A study of vehicle vibration spectra as related to seating dynamics. SAE Paper No. 720001
  12. Van Deussen, B. D. (1968). Human response to vehicle vibration. SAE Paper No. 680090
  13. Vartersian, J. H. (1982). On measuring automobile ride comfort. SAE Paper No. 820309
  14. Vartersian, J. H. and Thompson, R. R. (1977). The dynamic characteristics of automobile seats with human occupants. SAE Paper No. 770249