AN ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE DRIVER-SEAT-SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Vertical seat-suspension systems are characterized by a generalized tw o- degree-of-freedom model incorporating nonlinearities due to shock a bsorber damping, linkage friction and bump stops. The analytical model is validated using the results obtained from laboratory tests perform ed under sinusoidal excitations in the 0.5-8.O Hz frequency range. Hum an body models of varying complexities, derived from the mechanical im pedance data, are discussed and integrated to the nonlinear seat-suspe nsion model to derive a coupled driver- seat-suspension model. Nonline ar analytical models are expressed by their linear equivalent models u sing a local equivalent linearization technique based on energy simila rity. The vibration attenuation performance characteristics of the sea t-suspension and driver-seat-suspension models are investigated for de terministic and random cab floor excitations. The results of the study revealed that the seated human body contributes considerably to the o verall ride performance.