Modeling human response to foot-transmitted vibration

振动可以通过与振动表面接触的任何点进入人体，通常被归类为全身振动(WBV)、手臂振动(HAV)或脚传振动(FTV)。以前对WBV和HAV的研究已经模拟了结构、血管和神经对振动的反应之间的复杂相互作用。然而，解释复杂的生物动力学、精神物理学和人类对FTV的生理反应的模型还没有开发出来。因此，本研究计划的长期目标是从生物动力学、心理物理学和生理学的角度来描述FTV变量和人类对FTV反应之间的定量关系。研究成果将支持致力于开发“防振”工具/设备的工程师和致力于确定个人防护设备材料的材料科学家的努力，这些材料能够减弱与伤害和不适有关的职业振动参数。还需要了解人类对FTV的反应，以提出适合测量和评估职业性FTV的加权曲线。为此，短期目标将侧重于调查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、弓形指数、质量)与选定的生物动力学(传递性)、心理物理学(舒适性)和生理反应变量(心率、血流量)之间的关系。将进行受控实验室实验，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在FTV中。研究成果将被用来建立一个模型，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.