In our study we have attempted to determine a method for objectively evaluating seating comfort.
Forty-three different front passenger car seats were subjectively evaluated for comfort under static conditions. The following objective data for these seats were measured for possible correlation with the subjective evaluation: static pressure distribution characteristics, static load/deflection characteristics and vibration characteristics.
The pattern of the static pressure distribution was found to approximately correlate with the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable seats. It was also found that the sensation of being cushioned, one of the subjective evaluation factors, was related to the natural frequency obtained from the vibration experiments as well as to the static spring constant obtained from the static load/deflection experiments.
Further, by using the paired comparison method, six seats mounted on a servohydraulic shaker were subjectively evaluated for dynamic seating comfort and these results were compared with the results of the objective measurements. This comparison showed that subjective dynamic seating comfort is realted to both the natural frequency and the transmission ratio.