WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION OF STANDING SUBJECTS

Abstract : Five male volunteers were utilized in a study of subjective response to vibration while in the standing position. Four reaction levels (perceptible, mildly annoying, extremely annoying and alarming) were established in the range of 1 through 27 cycles per second utilizing the Boeing Human Vibration Facility as the test instrument. Experimental procedures and controls were identical to a previous study in which the subjects were seated. The annoying levels established were at higher acceleration input values than their counterparts of the seated studies, with only minor variations in the perceptible and alarming curves under the two conditions. Possible explanations of the noted differences, physiological effects of vibration on the standing subject, and body absorption characteristics and their relationship to the subjects reactions are discussed.