Effects of seating on the discomfort caused by mechanical shocks: Measurement and prediction of SEAT values

Seat effective amplitude transmissibilities (SEAT values) quantify the influence of seats on discomfort caused by vibration. This study investigated SEAT values with vertical mechanical shocks at low, medium, and high magnitudes (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ms−1.75) at frequencies between 1.0 and 16 Hz. With 18 subjects sitting on a rigid seat and two foam cushions, SEAT values were measured objectively (from the transmitted vibration), measured subjectively (by the responses of subjects), and predicted (using a model of the seat-passenger system). Except with high magnitude low frequency shocks, predicted SEAT values were similar to measured SEAT values. With shocks causing subjects to rise off a cushion and subsequently impact the cushion (low frequencies around 1 g), subjective SEAT values were better estimated using predicted SEAT values than objectively measured SEAT values, because accelerometers on cushions exaggerated the impact of the falling subject. However, accelerometers on rigid seats will underestimate such impacts.