Measurement of the Biodynamic Response of the Hand-Arm System and Study of its Influence on the Vibrational Response of the Steering Wheel

Driver’s hands modify the vibrational response of the steering wheel, so that car manufacturers are used to measure vibrations of the free steering wheel to ensure reproducibility. However, levels measured in this condition do not represent those perceived by the driver. The aim of this study is to predict the vibrational response of the hand-wheel coupled system from measurements of the non-held steering wheel, and of the mechanical impedance of the arm. The mechanical impedance of the hand-arm system is measured at three levels of vibration (0.5 2.5 and 5 m/s²) in two directions of excitation (along the arm and in the normal direction of the palm). The position of the arm and the hand grip are controlled to be as close as possible to a driving situation. For each condition, the mechanical impedance is calculated and compared to models of ISO 10068. The differences introduced between the response of the left and right hand are also investigated according to the preferred hand and anthropometric data. In a second step, a measurement of the vibrational response of the steering wheel, excited by a straight-line driving situation, is carried out in three conditions of the steering wheel (without being held, one-handed and two-handed). Based on the steering wheel impedance, the biodynamic response of the participant and the coupling relationship, the vibration of the hand-wheel coupling system is predicted and compared to the on road measurement. The results are being analysed and will be presented at the congress.