Review on vibration quality improvement of a passenger seat

Abstract

Seats are one of the most significant components of vehicles. Customer's expectations for the comfort in vehicle seats rise continuously. Designing of automobile seats has always been a challenge for engineers as design parameters for automobile seats are complex. When it comes to the design of automobile seats, three design objectives, namely comfort, safety and health need to be fulfilled simultaneously. Vibration analysis plays a major role in engineering including the area of design for automobile comfort. Human structure, as a mechanical system, is immensely complex and the mechanical properties of human body readily undergo change. In addition, the vibration can initiate the development of pressure ulcer and other long-term diseases. Comfort measurement is challenging because of such factors as user subjectivity, seat geometry, occupant anthropometry and amount of time spent sitting. The purpose of this study is to identify the most significant parameters that make vibration in the vehicle seat which reduce passenger comfort and to identify the design parameters that can impact on appropriate seat design. Suspension systems, seat cushion and sitting postures are some of the vital parameters that have huge impacts on comfort analysis. This review could help in design of seat cushions with appropriate material properties and in analysing the comfort levels of human body to reduce the vibration transmissibility at the critical frequency bands.