Evaluating the Vibration and Shock Isolation Qualities of Operator Seats for Construction Machinery

Since vehicle seats interact dynamically with the human body, testing the response characteristics of such seats for proper application is important. Likewise, the methods and techniques used for such evaluations are equally important if meaningful results are to be obtained. This paper discusses two quantitative test procedures applicable primarily to judging the relative performance of several seats with regard to dynamic characteristics. In particular, the equipment and procedures necessary to plot seat transmissibility are discussed and specific example data are shown for two suspension seats and a static cushion seat. Also, equipment and procedures for assessing the relative dynamic response index (DRI) are discussed and example results for a suspension seat and a cushion seat are included.