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A modal analysis of whole-body vertical vibration, using a finite element model of the human body

A modal analysis of whole-body vertical vibration, using a finite element model of the human body
A modal analysis of whole-body vertical vibration, using a finite element model of the human body

A two-dimensional model of human biomechanical responses to whole-body vibration has been developed, by using the finite element method. Beam, spring and mass elements were used to model the spine, viscera, head, pelvis and buttocks tissue in the mid-sagittal plane. The model was developed by comparison of the vibration mode shapes with those previously measured in the laboratory. At frequencies below 10 Hz, the model produced seven modes which coincided well with the measurements. The principal resonance of the driving point response at about 5 Hz consisted of an entire body mode, in which the head, spinal column and the pelvis move almost rigidly, with axial and shear deformation of tissue beneath the pelvis occurring in phase with a vertical visceral mode. The second principal resonance at about 8 Hz corresponded to a rotational mode of the pelvis, with a possible contribution from a second visceral mode. A shift of the principal resonance of the driving point response, when changing posture, was achieved only by changing the axial stiffness of the buttocks tissue. It is suggested that an increase in contact area between the buttocks and the thighs and the seat surface, when changing posture from erect to slouched, may decrease the axial stiffness beneath the pelvis, with a non-linear force-deflection relationship of tissue resulting in decreases in the natural frequencies. A change in posture from erect to slouched also increased shear deformation of tissue beneath the pelvis in the entire body mode, and the natural frequency was decreased as a result of the much lower shear stiffness of tissue compared to the axial stiffness.

0022-460X
83-103
Kitazaki, S.
ed0e8233-d386-4446-b918-28ee2cd38553
Griffin, M. J.
24112494-9774-40cb-91b7-5b4afe3c41b8
Kitazaki, S.
ed0e8233-d386-4446-b918-28ee2cd38553
Griffin, M. J.
24112494-9774-40cb-91b7-5b4afe3c41b8

Kitazaki, S. and Griffin, M. J. (1997) A modal analysis of whole-body vertical vibration, using a finite element model of the human body. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 200 (1), 83-103.

Record type: Article

Abstract

A two-dimensional model of human biomechanical responses to whole-body vibration has been developed, by using the finite element method. Beam, spring and mass elements were used to model the spine, viscera, head, pelvis and buttocks tissue in the mid-sagittal plane. The model was developed by comparison of the vibration mode shapes with those previously measured in the laboratory. At frequencies below 10 Hz, the model produced seven modes which coincided well with the measurements. The principal resonance of the driving point response at about 5 Hz consisted of an entire body mode, in which the head, spinal column and the pelvis move almost rigidly, with axial and shear deformation of tissue beneath the pelvis occurring in phase with a vertical visceral mode. The second principal resonance at about 8 Hz corresponded to a rotational mode of the pelvis, with a possible contribution from a second visceral mode. A shift of the principal resonance of the driving point response, when changing posture, was achieved only by changing the axial stiffness of the buttocks tissue. It is suggested that an increase in contact area between the buttocks and the thighs and the seat surface, when changing posture from erect to slouched, may decrease the axial stiffness beneath the pelvis, with a non-linear force-deflection relationship of tissue resulting in decreases in the natural frequencies. A change in posture from erect to slouched also increased shear deformation of tissue beneath the pelvis in the entire body mode, and the natural frequency was decreased as a result of the much lower shear stiffness of tissue compared to the axial stiffness.

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Published date: 13 February 1997

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 429453
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/429453
ISSN: 0022-460X
PURE UUID: 7640c2ea-8cd7-484a-9ab0-52a6c589251e
ORCID for M. J. Griffin: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0743-9502

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Date deposited: 27 Mar 2019 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 12:22

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Contributors

Author: S. Kitazaki
Author: M. J. Griffin ORCID iD

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