AS 2993.

1—1987

Australian Standard
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VIBRATION AND SHOCK—

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE HUMAN BODY

Part 1—DRIVING POINT

IMPEDANCE OF THE
HUMAN BODY
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee AV/10, Vibration and Shock—
Human Effects. It was approved on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association
of Australia on 10 August 1987 and published on 5 October 1987.

The following interests are represented on Committee AV/10:

Australian Association of Occupational Therapists

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Australian Coal Association

Australian Environment Council
Confederation of Australian Industry
Construction Equipment Importers and Manufacturers of Australia
CSIRO, National Measurement Laboratory
Department of Defence
Department of Industrial Relations and Employment, N.S.W.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
Railways of Australia Committee
Royal Institution of Naval Architects
University of Newcastle

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 86060.

 AS 2993.1—1987

Australian Standard
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

VIBRATION AND SHOCK—

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE HUMAN BODY
Part 1—DRIVING POINT
IMPEDANCE OF THE
HUMAN BODY

First publi shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1987

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 4734 0
 AS 2993.1—1987 2

PREFACE

This Standard is based on ISO 5982, Vibration and Shock—Mechanical Driving Point
Impedance of the Human Body, and it is one of a series dealing with the dynamic
characteristics of the human body.

CONTENTS

Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
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1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .................. .... . . . 4

2 FIELD OF APPLICATION . . . . .. ... .. ..... ..... ........ . . . 4
3 REFERENCED DOCUMENT . . .. .. ... .. ..... ..... ....... . . . 4
4 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . .... ..... ................. . . . 4
5 HUMAN IMPEDANCE . . . . . . ... .. ..... ..... ........... . . . 4
6 DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE CURVES OF THE HUMAN BODY . . 4

APPENDICES

A DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE—STANDING POSITION—

z DIRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE—SITTING POSITION—
z DIRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
C DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE—SUPINE POSITION—
x DIRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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 3 AS 2993.1—1987

FOREWORD

When the effects of vibration on people are being considered, it is valuable to have an
understanding of the mechanical characteristics of the body. This Standard draws
together available information on the input mechanical characteristics of the human
body when subjected to vertical mechanical vibration.
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 AS 2993.1—1987
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Australian Standard
VIBRATION AND SHOCK—
DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HUMAN BODY
Part 1—DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY
1 SCOPE. This Standard defines the mechanical
characteristics of the human body in the form of
whole body mechanical input impedance. Available
information is restricted to the frequency range
from 0.5 Hz to 30 Hz for a limited number of body
positions. (See Figures A1, B1, and C1 for positions
of input.)
2 FIELD OF APPLICATION. It is expected that
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this impedance information will be used in the
analytical design of isolation systems such as
platforms, seats, and vehicle suspensions. Its use is
therefore limited to the development of mathematical
models which represent the human body as part of a
mechanical system. It should not be used to evaluate
physiological response or tolerance.
Mechanical systems should be designed to reduce
detrimental vibration effects on the human body
according to AS 2670 and other associated
documents.
It should be remembered that driving point impedance
measurements are not necessarily the best approach if
modelling of the complete (human) system is
intended.
3 REFERENCED DOCUMENT. The following
Standard is referred to in this Standard:
AS 2670 Vibration and Shock—Guide to the Evalu-
ation of Human Exposure to Whole Body
Vibration.
4 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Standard,
the definitions below apply.
4.1 Mechanical impedance—the complex ratio of
force to velocity where the force and velocity may be
taken at the same or different points in the same
mechanical system during simple harmonic and
steady state motion. Mechanical impedance can be
extended to include transient and non-harmonic
motion. It generally applies only to linear systems,
i.e. impedance is given by the following equation:
where Z(ω), F(ω) and V(ω) are the complex values
for impedance, force, and velocity respectively at a
given frequency, and ω is angular frequency in
radians per second.
4.2 Driving point and transfer impedance—driving
point impedance is used when force and velocity are
measured at the same point. Transfer impedance
indicates that the velocity is measured at a different
point to the force input.
COPYRIGHT
4
For simple harmonic motion, the impedance can
easily be determined, in that the impedance magni-
tude is given by the ratio of the force and velocity
sinusoidal amplitudes and the phase angle (φ) is the
phase difference between the force and velocity
sinusoids. For non-harmonic excited vibrations, the
impedance is computed from the force and velocity
spectra.
NOTE: If , in future, the dynamic characteri stic of the human
body is to be descri bed as a multi -i nput system, the mobil it y
concept wil l be more suit able. The mechanical mobil it y is the
inverse of the mechanical impedance. (5)
5 HUMAN BODY IMPEDANCE.
5.1 General. The impedance of the human body can
only be described with certain reservations which are
indicated in Clauses 5.2 to 5.5.
5.2 Frequency range. Impedance curves for the
human body have been determined experimentally for
frequencies from 0.5 Hz to 30 Hz.
5.3 Linearity. The human body vibrating in the
z-axis for standing and seating positions, shows a
non-linear characteristic. However, to a first appro-
ximation, this non-linearity may be disregarded under
conditions of normal gravity and acceleration ampli-
tudes not exceeding those used in the determination
of the impedance values as stated in Appendices A
and B.
5.4 Posture of the body. The impedance depends
upon the body posture and muscle tension, which in
turn are influenced by the specific activity of the
human being. For example, the modulus of impedance
and resonance frequency shift to higher values when
the human body stiffens its spring characteristic by
assuming an erect body position and/or muscle
tensing, whereas the values decrease with a bent and
relaxed position.
5.5 Body restraints. External restraints, such as
seat pan and seat back orientation, arm rests or foot
rests, seatbelts or harness, will also affect the
impedance of the body.
6 DRIVING POINT IMPEDANCE CURVES OF
THE HUMAN BODY. The whole-body z-axis input
mechanical impedance of the human body seated or
standing upright has the following general characteri-
stics. Below about 2 Hz, the body vibrates like a pure
mass. The available data is such that no conclusions
can be drawn on changes in impedance with body
mass or stature except below 2 Hz. Above that
frequency, the impedance rises to a maximum in the
region of 5 Hz, which is associated with the principal
resonance of the human torso in response to z-axis
excitation.
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AS 2993.1-1987, Vibration and shock - Dynamic

characteristics of the human body Driving point
impedance of the human body
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