Modeling human response to foot-transmitted vibration

振动可以通过与振动表面接触的任何一点进入人体，通常分为全身振动（WBV）、手臂振动（HAV）或脚传振动（FTV）。先前关于WBV和HAV的研究已经模拟了结构、血管和神经系统对振动的反应之间复杂的相互作用。然而，一个解释人类对FTV复杂的生物动力学、心理物理和生理反应的模型尚未建立起来。因此，本研究计划的长期目标是建立一个模型，从生物动力学、心理物理学和生理学的角度描述FTV变量与人类对FTV的反应之间的定量关系。研究成果将支持致力于开发“抗振动”工具/设备的工程师和材料科学家的工作，以确定能够衰减与伤害和不适相关的职业振动参数的个人防护设备的材料。了解人类对FTV的反应也需要提出一个适合测量和评估职业FTV的加权曲线。为此，短期目标将集中于研究FTV暴露特征（频率、幅度、方向）、姿势特征（下肢姿势、站立压力中心、弓指数、质量）与选定的生物动力学（传播性）、心理物理（舒适度）和生理反应变量（心率、血流）之间的关系。受控的实验室实验将进行，参与者将站在能够模拟振动暴露的六自由度机器人平台上暴露于FTV。研究结果将用于建立一个模型来解释男性和女性参与者对FTV的生物动力学、心理物理和生理反应。

Vibration can enter the body through any point that is in contact with a vibrating surface and is typically classified as whole-body vibration (WBV), hand-arm vibration (HAV), or foot-transmitted vibration (FTV). Previous research examining WBV and HAV has modeled a complex interaction between structural, vascular, and neurological response to vibration. However, a model explaining the complex bio-dynamic, pyscho-physics and physiological human response to FTV has not been developed. Therefore, the long-term objective of this research program is to develop a model that describes the quantitative relationship between variables of FTV and human response to FTV from a bio-dynamic, pyscho-physics, and physiological perspective. Research outcomes will support efforts of engineers working to develop “anti-vibration” tools/equipment and material scientists working to identify materials for personal protective equipment that are capable of attenuating occupational vibration parameters link to injury, and discomfort. An understanding of human response to FTV is also needed to propose a weighting curve appropriate for the measurement, and evaluation of occupational FTV. To this end, short-term objectives will focus on investigating the relationship between FTV exposure characteristics (frequency; magnitude; direction), posture characteristics (lower limb postures; standing center of pressure; arch-index; mass), and selected bio-dynamic (transmissibility), psycho-physics (comfort), and physiological response variables (heart rate; blood flow). Controlled laboratory experiments will be conducted and participants will be exposed to FTV while standing on a six degree of freedom robotic platform that is capable of simulating vibration exposures. Research outcomes will be used to build a model that explains the bio-dynamic, psycho-physics and physiological response of male and female participants to FTV.