The use of the portable ergonomic observation method (PEO) to monitor the sitting posture of schoolchildren in the classroom

Contrary to common belief, back pain amongst young people is a frequent phenomenon. Epidemiological studies have found high prevalence rates of back pain amongst schoolchildren. The investigation reported here aims to validate children's self-reporting and the observation of sitting postures to establish the intensity, duration and frequency of exposure in the classroom. The sitting postures of 18 children were recorded using three methods, the portable ergonomic observation method (PEO), video analysis and self-report. The three methods were compared. PEO was significantly correlated with video analysis of the sitting postures after development of the method. Self-report was not significantly correlated with video analysis of the sitting postures. Therefore PEO was selected as the main observation tool in further analysis of children's sitting posture in schools in South-East England as part of a large research programme investigating back pain amongst schoolchildren.     

能动断层对核电厂选址的影响

在分析比较美国核管会和国际原子能机构的有关选址约束规定的基础上,结合我国东部地区的地震地质特征,提出了比较符合我国实际情况的选址约束规定.     

核电站选址及设计过程中对飞机坠毁事件的考虑

本文主要总结和介绍了有关在核电站选址及设计过程中,对飞机坠毁事件的概率分析、计算以及对结构和设备的影响。介绍和评价通用的计算撞击局部效应的公式。简述撞击对结构整体的响应和一些实用计算方法以及相应的结构措施。文中所总结和介绍的对飞机撞击效应的实用计算公式,也可适用于计算由其他原因引起的飞射物的撞击效应。     

基于表面肌电的腰枕大小对坐姿舒适性影响的研究

随着科学技术在工作环境中应用的增多,固定姿势的影响及其导致的健康问题日益突出。在影响坐姿健康的诸多因素中非常重要的一点就是腰部支撑。本文利用表面肌电镀术,采用主观评价与客观测试相结合的方法,分析评价了腰枕大小对坐姿舒适性的影响,为从人体工程学的角度合理优化沙发腰部支撑设计提供了理论依据。研究结果表明,中等型号的腰枕可以使人体获得较好的坐姿;过大或过小的腰枕都不利于人体坐姿的保持。同时,实验研究还表明,表面肌电指标值IEMG和MPF可以较好地反映坐姿舒适性,二者结合使用可以达到较大地评价沙发使用舒适性的目的。     

基于模拟退火遗传算法的分散式风电选址定容

分散式电源的优化配置是智能电网发展的重要课题之一。对分散式电源进行合理的选址和定容对于配电网规划非常重要。以分散式风力发电为平台,考虑分散式风力发电机的接入对配电网网损及电压质量的影响,应用计及风力发电机的配电网潮流计算方法获得配电网的相关电气参数,并在此基础上以提高电压质量和网损最小为目标,将模拟退火遗传算法应用到寻优算法中。最后举一算例进行验证。     

Seated body apparent mass response to vertical whole body vibration: Gender and anthropometric effects

The gender and anthropometric effects on apparent mass characteristics of the seated body exposed to vertical vibration are investigated through laboratory measurements. The study was conducted on 31 male and 27 female subjects, exposed to three levels of vertical vibration (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 m/s² rms acceleration) in the 0.50 to 20 frequency range, while seated without a back support and against a vertical back support. The apparent mass responses were analyzed by grouping datasets in three ranges of mass-, build- and stature-related parameters for the male and female subjects. Comparisons of responses of male and female subjects with comparable anthropometric properties showed distinctly different biodynamic responses of the two genders. The primary resonance frequency of male subjects was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than the female subjects of comparable body mass but the peak magnitude was comparable for both the gender groups. The male subjects showed greater softening with increasing excitation magnitude compared to the female subjects, irrespective of the sitting condition. The male subjects showed significantly higher peak magnitude response than those of the female subjects for the same anthropometric properties, except for the total and lean body mass. The peak magnitude was linearly correlated with the body mass, body mass index, body fat and hip circumference (r² > 0.7), irrespective of the back support and excitation conditions for both the genders.Relevance to the industryThe apparent mass responses of the human body exposed to whole-body vibration form an essential basis for an understanding of mechanical-equivalent properties of the body, developments in frequency-weightings for assessment of exposure risks and anthropodynamic manikins for assessment of seats. The effects of gender and anthropometric parameters on the AM response are vital for seeking better seat designs, and anthropodynamic manikins for assessments of seating for male as well as female workers.     

Driver sitting comfort and discomfort (part I): Use of subjective ratings in discriminating car seats and correspondence among ratings

Several subjective rating schemes were investigated to determine which might be the most effective for use in designing and evaluating car seats, and what relationships exist among these schemes. Participants (n=27) completed short-term driving sessions, in six combinations of seats (from vehicles ranked high and low on overall comfort), vehicle class (sedan and SUV), and driving venue (lab-based and field). Overall ratings were obtained, as well as separate measures of comfort and discomfort of the whole body and local body parts. No association was found between subjective ratings and a publicly available overall vehicle comfort score (J.D. Power and Associates’ Comfort Score), implying that other factors besides sitting comfort/discomfort (and car seats) account for overall vehicle comfort. Other major results were that contemporary car seats appear to best accommodate those of middle stature, that packages/seats of sedans were preferred over those of SUVs, that separate processes appeared to be involved in determining whole body comfort and discomfort, and that ratings of comfort were most effective at differentiating among the car seats. Finally, a scheme for the use of subjective ratings was suggested: discomfort ratings for ensuring basic seat requirements (pain prevention-oriented) and comfort ratings for promoting advanced seat requirements (pleasure promotion-oriented).

Relevance to industry

Evidence regarding the advantages and disadvantages of different subjective rating schemes can facilitate future design and evaluation of automotive seats.     

Analysis of sitting comfortability of driver's seat by contact shape

Abstract

In order to evaluate sitting comfort qualitatively, a flexible and very thin sensor was developed to measure the contact shape between a seated man and the seal surface. Each tape has twenty strain guages on it at regular intervals, and the fourteen tape sensors were arranged on the bottom and back surface of the experimental driver's seat. The contact shapes and postures in thirty two male drivers were measured with two types of seal cushion and sitting posture: free and recommended. Sensory evaluation was made for each experimental condition. The results of the interrelation between the characteristics of the surface deformation, the parameters of body build, sitting posture and feeling of comfort shows that the comfort of each morphological fitting does not correspond to one special and single parameter from those physical factors, but is represented by a function with many parameters related to the deformation, posture and body build. By using these relations, a sensory model for the prediction of the sitting comfort was constructed.     

一种分裂式汽车座椅设计及其舒适性评价分析

针对目前坐姿人体全身水平振动研究不够深入的问题,对自己设计的分裂式汽车座椅与普通汽车座椅进行研究,开展汽车座椅舒适性研究.利用电动振动台产生正弦白噪声信号对两种汽车座椅进行水平和垂向振动试验,得到人体坐姿头部传递函数曲线.利用虚拟样机仿真软件Adams/LifeMOD进行坐姿人体水平全身振动仿真实验,最终得出水平方向振...     

Implementation of double-pulsed holography in evaluation of whole-body vibration

This study used a unique holographic technique to evaluate the effects of vibration on soft tissues and bones. It was possible to record forced whole-body vibration in humans by holograph interferometry using a double-pulsed ruby laser. The study investigated the manner in which the muscles of the back and vertebral column are affected by vibrations applied to the human buttocks in the sitting position. The subject was exposed to vibration at two frequencies: 40 and 60 Hz (vertical Z axis). Transmission of the vibrations along the subject's back was recorded by means of double-pulsed holography and electromyography. Evaluation of the vibration pattern showed that the vibrations are transmitted along the back all the way up to the neck and head. The pattern of vibration in the muscles of the back and vertebral column showed that the greatest effect was exerted on the lumbar region of the back and the area of transition between the thoracic and cervical regions.