The present International Standard for human response to whole-body vibration (ISO 2631) has been in effect since 1974. This standard is used to assess the effect of environmental vibration on operator health, efficiency, and comfort. This paper discusses the derivation of the standard and the bases upon which its main propositions were formed. Some aspects of the standard are supported by empirical data; however, this paper highlights a number of deficiencies that call into question the appropriateness of the standard for application. In particular, the shape of the frequency weighting curves, the concept of time dependency, the response criteria, and the weighting method for nonsinusoidal vibrations are examined in the light of published experimental findings.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allen, G. R.Ride quality and international standard ISO 2631 (“Guide for the evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration”). Washington, DC: NASA, Technical Report No. NASA-TM-X-3295, 1975.
2.
British Standards Institution, Guide to the evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration. BS DD 32.London: Author, March, 1974.
3.
Brown, I. D., and Poulton, E. C.Measuring the spare “mental capacity” of car drivers by a subsidiary task. Ergonomics, 1961, 5, 35–40.
4.
Bryce, W. D.A human criterion for the acceptance of transverse seat vibration. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1966, 3, 384–392.
5.
Chaney, R. E.Subjective reaction to whole-body vibration. Wichita, KS: Boeing Co., Technical Report No. D3-6474, 1964.
6.
Chancy, R. E.Whole body vibration of standing subjects. Wichita, KS: Boeing Co., Technical Report No. 03–6779, 1965.
7.
Clarke, M. J.A study of the available evidence on duration effects on comfort and task proficiency under vibration. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1979, 65, 107–123.
8.
Clarke, M. J.Human response to vibration and ISO 2631. In D. J. Oborne and J. A. Levis (Eds.) Human factors in transport research (Vol. II). London: Academic Press, 1980.
9.
Clark, W. S., Lange, W.O., and Coermann, R. R.Deformation of the human body due to uni-directional forced sinusoidal vibration. Human Factors, 1962, 4, 255–274.
10.
Coermann, R. R.The mechanical impedance of the human body in sitting and standing position at low frequencies. Human Factors, 1962, 4, 227–253.
11.
Cowley, D. M.International standards in the vibration field. In W. Tempest (Ed.) Infrasound and low frequency vibration.London: Academic Press, 1976.
12.
Dieckmann, D.Einfluss horizontaler mechanischer Sehwingungen auf den Menschen. lnternationale Zeitschrift fuer Angewandte Physiologie Einschliesslich Arbeitsphysiologie, 1958, 17, 83–100. (a)
13.
Dieckmann, D.A study of the influence of vibration on man. Ergonomics, 1958, 1, 347–355. (b)
14.
Gray, R., Wilkinson, R. T., Maslen, K. R., and Rowlands, G. F.The effects of 3 hours of vertical vibration at 5 Hz on the performance of some tasks. Farnborough, U.K.; Royal Aircraft Establishment, Technical Report No. 76011, 1976.
15.
Griffin, M. J., and Whitham, E. M.Duration of whole-body vibration exposure; Its effects on comfort. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1976, 48. 333–339.
16.
Guignard, J. C., Landrum, C. J., and Reardon, R. E.Experimental evaluation of International Standard (ISO 2631) for whole-body vibration exposures. Dayton, OH; University of Dayton Research Institute, Technical Report No. UDRI-TR-76–79, 1976.
17.
International Standards Organization. Guide for the evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. ISO 2631. Geneva: Author, 1974.
18.
Lewis, C. H., and Griffin, M. J.Mechanisms of the effects of vibration frequency, level and duration on continuous manual control performance. Ergonomics, 1979, 22, 855–889.
19.
Loach, J. C.A new method of assessing the riding of vehicles and some results obtained. Journal of the Institute of Locomotive Engineers, 1958, 48. 183–240.
Maslen, K. R. Efficiency under prolonged vibration and the ISO “Guide.” Farnborough, U.K.; Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Memo EP 512, 1972.
22.
Metz, B. G.Ergonomics and standards. Ergonomics, 1976, 19. 271–274.
23.
Miwa, T.Evaluation methods for vibration effects: Part 1. Measurements of threshold and equal sensation contours for whole body vertical and horizontal vibrations. lndustrial Health (Japan), 1967, 5, 183–205. (a)
24.
Miwa, T.Evaluation methods for vibration effects; Part II. Measurements of threshold and equal sensation contours for whole body vertical and horizontal vibrations. lndustrial Health (Japan), 1967, 5, 206–212. (b)
25.
Miwa, T., Yonekawa, Y., and Kajima-Sudo, A.Measurement and evaluation of environmental vibrations. Part 3. Vibration exposure criteria. Industrial Health (Japan), 1973, 11, 185–196.
26.
Notess, C. B.A triangle: Flexible aeroplanes, gusts, crew. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Aeronautical Lab, Inc. Technical Report No. FDM-343, 1963.
27.
Oborne, D. J.A critical assessment of studies relating whole-body vibration to passenger comfort. Ergonomics, 1976, 19, 751–774.
28.
Oborne, D. J.Passenger comfort: An overview. Applied Ergonomics, 1978. 9, 131–136. (a)
29.
Oborne, D. J.The stability of equal sensation contours for whole-body vibration. Ergonomics, 1978, 21, 651-658. (b)
30.
Oborne, D. J., Boarer, P., and Heath, T. O.Variations in human response to whole-body vibration: Intensity dependent effects. Ergonomics, 1981, 24, 523–530.
31.
Oborne, D. J., Heath, T. 0., and Boarer, P.Variation in human response to whole-body vibration. Ergonomics, 1981, 24, 301–313.
32.
Obornc, D. J., and Humphreys, D. A.Individual variability in human response to whole-body vibration. Ergonomics, 1976, 19, 719–726.
33.
Reiher, H., and Meister, F. J.Die Empfindlichkeit des Menschen gegen Erschutterungen. Forschung auf dem Gabiete des I ngenieurwesens, 1931, 2, 381–386.
34.
Sandover, J.A standard on human response to vibration—One of a new breed?Applied Ergonomics, 1979, 10, 33–37.
35.
Shoenberger, R. W.Intensity judgments of non-sinusoidal vibrations: Support for the ISO weighting method. Aviation, Space and Enviromental Medicine, 1978, 49, 1327–1330.
36.
Simic, D.Contribution to the optimization of the oscillatory properties of a vehicle: Physiological foundations of comfort during oscillations. Farnborough U.K.: Royal Aircraft Establishment, Translation 1707, February, 1974. (Translated from Technical University of Berlin dissertation D38, 1970.)
37.
Sperling, E., and Betzhold, C.Contribution to the evaluation of comfortable running of railway vehicles. Monthly Bulletin of the International Railway Congress Association (Belgium), 1957, 34, 672–678.
38.
Verein Deutscher Ingenieure. Beurteilung der Einwirkung mechanischer Schwingungen auf der Menschen. Berlin: Author, Technical Standard VDI 2057, October, 1963.
39.
Von Gierke, H. E.On noise and vibration exposure criteria. Archives of Environmental Health, 1965, 11, 327–339.
40.
Von Gierke, H. E. Physiological and performance effects on the aircrew during low-altitude high-speed Right missions. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Technical Report No. AMRL-TR-70–67. 1971.
41.
Von Gierke, H. E.The ISO Standard: “Guide for the evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration.”Washington, DC: NASA, Technical Report No. NASATM-X-3295. 1975.
42.
Von Gierke, H. E., and Coermann, R. R.The biodynamics of human response to vibration and impact. Industrial Medicine and Surgery, 1963, 32, 30–32.
