Comfort analysis of vehicle driver’s seat through simulation of the sitting process

Abstract

In this paper, a method for ergonomic analysis of the seating comfort in the driver’s seat for passenger vehicles is presented in two phases. In the first phase, the comfort seating postures of the driver are analyzed considering the comfort angles for the placement of human body and the necessary space for foot controls in vehicles, as well as the ranges of adjustments of the driver's seat and steering wheel. According to the determined comfort postures, the seat-human body virtual system is modeled. In the second phase, virtual testing of the seating comfort is performed with two different body sizes for 50th and 80th percentiles of virtual mannequins. The results can be used further to improve the arrangement of the basic comfort components for the driver's seat in vehicles. Virtual solid model of driver's body and driver's seat was created, especially for analysis of the pressure distribution on the contact surface of the virtual human body and the seat cushion foam. Virtual testing was performed using software package ABAQUS, simulating processes with finite element analysis method (FEA). The testing includes variation of the spatial mechanical properties of polyurethane foam and variation of the male body sizes for 50th and 80th percentiles. The results from the virtual testing were verified experimentally using pressure distribution mapping sensors. Using the virtual testing system for seating comfort, design changes of the seat can be introduced and verified.