Investigation of Internal Human Body Dynamic Forces Developed During a Vehicle Ride

Abstract

High internal forces in the human body may have adverse effects on internal organs and may cause muscle fatigue. An estimation of these internal forces can help in predicting human body response to different types of seats, seat suspension configuration, and road profiles. It is difficult to experimentally determine these internal forces and moments. This work attempts to predict these forces and moments through 12 degrees of freedom (DoF) human body, nonlinear cushion contact force, and full car (7DoF) model integrated through an inclined multi-compression damper seat suspension. The integrated system is analyzed using MATLAB-SIMULINK for random and bump road profiles. Various response parameters such as human seat interaction and internal joint vertical and fore-aft forces and moments have been studied with different vehicle speeds and distinct types of bump profile. The results indicate that internal forces increase with the rise in vehicle speed and the sine wave bump profile generates lower internal forces compared to a circular bump profile.