EFFECTS OF DECELERATION AND RATE OF DECELERATION ON LIVE SEATED HUMAN SUBJECTS

This paper describes the testing of seated human subjects to determine the maximum deceleration and associated rate of change of deceleration (jerk) at which the majority of potential users of automated-guideway-transportation systems will remain securely in their seats. The subjects underwent various levels of deceleration and associated jerk in an instrument vehicle while seated normally (forward facing); sideways (turned 90 deg counterclockwise from the direction of travel); and normally, but tilted backward (facing forward, but with the entire seat tilted 5 deg backward). The subjects also underwent various levels of jerk (seated normally only). Two groups of subjects were chosen to represent the anthropometric extremes of potential passengers: males larger than 95 percent of the male population and females smaller than all but 5 percent of the female population. Estimates based on these tests of the maximum permissible emergency deceleration are 0.47 g for forward-facing, seated passengers and 0.41 g for side-facing, seated passengers. Tilting the entire seat assembly back 5 deg increased the estimated maximum permissible deceleration to 0.52 g.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1977/646/646-003.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EFFECTS+OF+DECELERATION+AND+RATE+OF+DECELERATION+ON+LIVE+SEATED+HUMAN+SUBJECTS&author=C.+Abernethy&author=G.+Plank&author=E.+Sussman&author=H.+Jacobs&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Task Force on Ride Quality. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Abernethy, C N
  • Plank, G R
  • Sussman, E D
  • Jacobs, H H
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 12-17
• Monograph Title: Transportation ride quality
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 646
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated guideway transit; Deceleration; Human factors; Jerk control; Ride quality; Safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Jerk
• Subject Areas: Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00179351
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030902675X
• Files: NTL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 12 1978 12:00AM