DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUSPENSION SEAT FOR AGRICULTURE

TRACTOR

MOHAMMED OMAR ASHOOR BATAHER

175744

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL)

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

SERDANG SELANGOR

2016/2017
 APPROVAL SHEET

This project report attached here to entitle Design and Development of Suspension

Seat for Agriculture Tractor has been prepared and submitted by Mohammed

Omar Ashoor Bataher (175744) in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the

degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Manufacturing), is hereby

approved and accepted:

Date:
Project Supervisor
Prof. Madya Ir Dr. Nawal Aswan Abdul Jalil
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:
Project Examiner
Prof. Madya Dr. Tang Sai Hong
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:
Project Examiner
Dr. Eris Elianddy Supeni
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia.

i
 DECLARATION

I hereby declared that the Final Year Project report is my original work, except for

quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I authorize Universiti

Putra Malaysia to lend this thesis to other institutions or individuals for the purpose

of scholarly research.

Date:
(MOHAMMED OMAR ASHOOR BATAHER)

ii
 ACKNWOLEDGEMENT

First of I thank Allah for finishing this project. Then, I would like to take this

opportunity and thank all the people and individuals who helped me and made me

believe in finishing this project because without mention them the project would be

incomplete. In particular, I would like to thank university Putra Malaysia for letting

me study and complete my bachelor degree and I would like to express my gratitude

to my supervisor prof. Madya Ir Dr. Nawal Aswan Abdul Jalil who gave me this

golden chance to do this wonderful project and let me conducting it under his

supervisor. I also would like to thank his PhD student Siti Aisyah Adam for

demonstrating me, directing me and helping me conducting the laboratory test. Not

forgiving the examiners, I would like to thank prof. Madya Dr. Tang Sai Hong and

Dr. Eris Elianddy Supeni for giving me some of their time to exam my project and

advice me making a better project.

Next, I would like to thank my parents and my family for giving me the chance to

study aboard, for their financial, for their motivation and put me up when I am

depressed. I also have to thank my friends and classmates who tried to help me to

finish this project on the time and who tried to release my stress. It was a good

opportunity to meet and know these people and I hope them all the best in their life.

Thank you.

iii
 ABSTRACT

Isolation system is a system that has the ability of reducing the input vibrations

which are transferred to the agriculture tractors operator. The objective of the

project is to design and develop a suspension seat for agriculture tractor. First of all,

the parameters that related to the actual suspension seat of agriculture tractor were

found than they were scaled down by 1/5 to be perfectly fitted the GT300M shaker

as it was the testing shaker. The suspension seat had to be within three boundaries

which are International Standards, GT300M shaker limitations and Malaysia

environment. Then three conceptual designs were made to choose the best suitable

design for the project. Design selection, final detailed design and fabrication of the

suspension seat were done. After that and by using Inventor software, three groups

of spring with different stiffness were designed by Inventor and bought out to install

them on the suspension seat. The suspension seat accommodates 4 springs so 4 units

of each group were bought. The three equivalent springs were soft spring with low

stiffness (10 kN/m) and high stroke (23.5 mm), moderate spring with moderate

stiffness (12 kN/m) and moderate stroke (19.5 mm) and hard spring with high

stiffness (15 kN/m) and low stroke (15 mm). Then using the theoretical calculations,

the mode shape of these springs to the vertical vibrations were predicted. After that

the laboratory test was done then using these three springs and test each spring with

5, 10 and 20 kg of masses and each mass with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 of input vibrations

magnitudes. Next, the results were analysed and were plotted in graphs to make it

clear in comparing the response of the three springs. The comparing criteria were

vibration magnitudes on the upper plate (r.m.s) to that on the base, power spectral

density (PSD) and transmissibility. The soft spring with lowest stiffness (10 kN/m)

iv
and high stroke (23.5 mm) responded very well in attenuating the vertical vibrations

and the hard spring with highest stiffness (15 kN/m) and lowest stroke (15 mm)

responded badly and its vibration transmissibility was the highest one. Finally, the

report was concluded and some recommendations were suggested to help for more

improvements and further studies on this project.

v
 ABSTRAK

sistem pengasingan adalah satu sistem yang mempunyai keupayaan untuk

mengurangkan getaran input yang dipindahkan kepada operator traktor pertanian

ini. Objektif projek ini adalah untuk mereka bentuk dan membangunkan kerusi

penggantungan bagi traktor pertanian. Pertama sekali, parameter yang berkaitan

dengan kerusi penggantungan sebenar traktor pertanian yang telah didapati daripada

mereka telah dikurangkan oleh 1/5 hendak sempurna dilengkapi shaker GT300M

seperti semula shaker ujian. Kerusi penggantungan terpaksa berada dalam tiga

sempadan yang Piawaian Antarabangsa, GT300M batasan shaker dan persekitaran

Malaysia. Kemudian tiga reka bentuk konsep telah dibuat untuk memilih reka

bentuk terbaik yang sesuai untuk projek tersebut. pemilihan reka bentuk, reka

bentuk terperinci muktamad dan pembuatan kerusi penggantungan itu telah

dilakukan. Selepas itu dan dengan menggunakan perisian Inventor, tiga kumpulan

spring dengan kekakuan yang berbeza telah direka oleh Pencipta dan dibeli untuk

memasang mereka pada kerusi penggantungan. Kerusi penggantungan

menempatkan 4 mata air jadi 4 unit setiap kumpulan telah dibeli. Tiga mata air

bersamaan adalah spring lembut dengan kekukuhan yang rendah (10 kN / m) dan

strok tinggi (23.5 mm), musim bunga sederhana dengan kekakuan sederhana (12

kN / m) dan strok sederhana (19.5 mm) dan musim bunga keras dengan kekakuan

tinggi (15 kN / m) dan strok rendah (15 mm). Kemudian menggunakan pengiraan

secara teori, bentuk mod mata air ini untuk getaran menegak telah diramalkan.

Selepas itu ujian makmal dilakukan kemudian menggunakan tiga mata air dan

menguji setiap musim bunga dengan 5, 10 dan 20 kg ramai dan setiap jisim dengan

0.5, 1 dan 1.5 m / s2 getaran input magnitud. Seterusnya, keputusan telah dianalisis

vi
dan telah diplotkan dalam graf untuk menjelaskan dalam membandingkan

sambutan tiga mata air. Kriteria membandingkan adalah getaran magnitud pada plat

atas (r.m.s) itu pada asas, ketumpatan kuasa spektrum (JPA) dan kebolehpindahan.

spring paling lembut dengan kekukuhan paling rendah (10 kN / m) dan strok tinggi

(23.5 mm) bertindak balas dengan baik dalam melemahkan getaran menegak dan

musim bunga yang paling sukar dengan kekukuhan tertinggi (15 kN / m) dan strok

paling rendah (15 mm) bertindak balas teruk dan getaran kebolehpindahan adalah

salah satu yang paling tinggi. Akhir sekali, laporan itu telah membuat kesimpulan

dan beberapa cadangan telah dicadangkan untuk membantu untuk lebih banyak

penambahbaikan dan kajian lanjut mengenai projek ini.

vii
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................ 1
1.1 Background................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Problem statement ..................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Scope of study ........................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................. 6
2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Whole-body vibration (WBV)................................................................................... 6
2.1.1 Effects of whole-body vibration on operators of agriculture tractors................. 8
2.2 Seat of agriculture tractor .......................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 The optimum seat ............................................................................................... 9
2.2.2 Measurement of seat transmissibility in the laboratory .................................... 13
2.2.3 Seat effective amplitude transmissibility.......................................................... 13
2.3 Working principles of suspension seats .................................................................. 15
2.3.1 Active suspension seats .................................................................................... 17
2.3.2 Semi-active suspension seats ............................................................................ 17
2.3.3 Passive suspension seats ................................................................................... 18
2.4 Passive suspension seat with nonlinear spring ........................................................ 19
2.4.1 Nonlinearity: ..................................................................................................... 19
2.4.2 Nonlinear spring stiffness: ................................................................................ 20
2.5 Overview of standards investigation ....................................................................... 23
2.5.1 ISO 11112:1995 Earth-moving machinery -- Operator's seat -- Dimensions
and requirements...................................................................................................... 23
2.5.2 ISO 7096:2000 Earth-moving machinery -- Laboratory evaluation of operator
seat vibration............................................................................................................ 23
2.5.3 ISO 10326-1:2016 Mechanical vibrationLaboratory method for evaluating
vehicle seat vibration Part 1: Basic requirements ................................................. 24
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 25
3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 25
3.1 Design parameters ................................................................................................... 27
3.1.1 Industrial Standards and Testing ...................................................................... 27
3.1.2 Performance...................................................................................................... 27
3.1.3 Environment ..................................................................................................... 28
3.1.4 Manufacturing .................................................................................................. 28
3.1.5 Scaling and sizing ............................................................................................. 28

viii
 3.1.6 Applied force .................................................................................................... 29
3.2 Design 3 conceptual suspension seats ..................................................................... 30
3.3 Design selection method, final detailed design and fabrication .............................. 31
3.4 Calculation of the springs stiffness, ...................................................................... 35
3.4.1 Soft spring (lowest stiffness with highest stroke) ............................................. 35
3.4.2 Moderate spring (moderate stiffness with moderate stroke) ............................ 36
3.4.3 Hard spring (highest stiffness with lowest stroke) ........................................... 36
3.5 Prediction of the mode shape of the fabricated suspension seat.............................. 37
3.5.1 Force transmissibility ....................................................................................... 39
3.5.2 Displacement Transmissibility ......................................................................... 41
3.6 Conducting the laboratory test................................................................................. 43
3.6.1 Equipment ........................................................................................................ 43
3.6.2 Schematic diagram ........................................................................................... 46
3.6.3 Procedures ........................................................................................................ 47
3.7 Analysing and assessment of the suspension seat transmissibility.......................... 48
3.7.1 Vibration Magnitude (ar.m.s) .............................................................................. 48
3.7.2 Power spectral density(PSD) ............................................................................ 49
3.7.3 Transmissibility ................................................................................................ 49
3.7.4 Phase................................................................................................................. 50
3.7.5 Coherency......................................................................................................... 50
3.8 Result Comparison and justification ....................................................................... 51
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................ 52
4.1 Vibration magnitude (ar.m.s) ..................................................................................... 53
4.1.1 Testing of PSD at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 ................................................ 54
4.1.2 Testing of PSD at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 .............................................. 56
4.1.3 Testing of PSD at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 .............................................. 57
4.2 Transmissibility and Coherency .............................................................................. 58
4.2.1 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2
................................................................................................................................... 58
4.2.2 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5
m/s2 ............................................................................................................................ 59
4.2.3 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5
m/s2 ............................................................................................................................ 60
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION .......................................................................................... 64
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 66
APPENDIXES................................................................................................................... 69
Appendix A: Calculation of the three types of spring using Inventor software ............ 70

ix
 A1: The soft spring .................................................................................................... 71
A2: The moderate spring ........................................................................................... 72
A3: The hard spring ................................................................................................... 73
Appendix B: Weight of suspension seat and testing masses ......................................... 74
Appendix C: Vibration testing with different masses ................................................... 76
Appendix D: Full detailed drawing of the suspension seat parts .................................. 79

x
 TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Free body diagram of rotational nonlinear system (17) .................................. 19
Figure 2.2: Hard spring (17) .............................................................................................. 21
Figure 2.3: Soft spring (17) ............................................................................................... 22
Figure 3.1: Project flowchart ............................................................................................. 26
Figure 3.2: Full detailed design of suspension seat ........................................................... 33
Figure 3.3: Fabricated suspension seat .............................................................................. 34
Figure 3.4: Fabricated soft spring ...................................................................................... 35
Figure 3.5: Fabricated moderate spring ............................................................................. 36
Figure 3.6: Fabricated hard spring..................................................................................... 36
Figure 3.7: Single degree of freedom forced vibration of an undamped spring mass
system ................................................................................................................................ 37
Figure 3.8: Graphs of force transmissibility of the three stiffness at 5,10 and 20kg ......... 40
Figure 3.9: Graphs of displacement transmissibility of the three stiffness at 5,10 and 20kg
........................................................................................................................................... 42
Figure 3.10: Laptop (LMS software)................................................................................. 43
Figure 3.11: SCM210V LMS SCADAS ........................................................................... 44
Figure 3.12: Amplifier (power supply) ............................................................................. 44
Figure 3.13: GT300M Shaker ........................................................................................... 44
Figure 3.14: Adash VA4Pro Vibration Analyzer .............................................................. 45
Figure 3.15: On the left 99.23 sensitivity accelerometer attached to the excited base, and
on the right 99.27 sensitivity accelerometer attached to the upper plate ........................... 45
Figure 3.16: Long screw with two nuts and two washers ................................................. 45
Figure 3.17: Laptop with excel software ........................................................................... 46
Figure 3.18: Testing schematic diagram ........................................................................... 46
Figure 3.19: Suspension seat is secured on the shaker and is ready for the testing........... 47
Figure 4.1: Testing of PSD at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 .............................................. 54
Figure 4.2: Testing of PSD at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 ............................................ 56
Figure 4.3: Testing of PSD at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2 ............................................ 57
Figure 4.4: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5
m/s2 .................................................................................................................................... 58
Figure 4.5: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5
m/s2 .................................................................................................................................... 59
Figure 4.6: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5
m/s2 .................................................................................................................................... 60

xi
 TABLE OF TABLES

Table 2.1: Health effects due to whole-body vibration corresponding to resonance

frequencies........................................................................................................................... 7
Table 3.1:Actual general parameter for suspension seat ................................................... 29
Table 3.2: Scaled general parameters for suspension seat................................................. 29
Table 3.3: Conceptual designs ........................................................................................... 30
Table 3.4: Pros and cons of conceptual designs ................................................................ 31
Table 3.5: Pughis weighting table ..................................................................................... 32
Table 3.6: Mechanical properties scoring ......................................................................... 33
Table 3.7: Equivalent stiffness of each type of springs ..................................................... 38
Table 3.8: Natural frequency of the system for different stiffness and masses ................. 39
Table 4.1: Vibration magnitudes at 5kg ............................................................................ 53
Table 4.2: Vibration magnitudes at 10kg .......................................................................... 53
Table 4.3: Vibration magnitudes at 20kg .......................................................................... 53

xii
 ABBREVIATIONS

Spring one = Soft spring

Spring two = Moderate spring

Spring three = Hard spring

xiii
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Vibration is the oscillating, reciprocating, or other periodic motion of a rigid or

elastic body or medium forced from a position or state of equilibrium.

Measurements of vibrations are depended on their environment, sometime a

percentage of vibrations are required and accepted in certain environment but it is

so harmful in another environment. Continuously exposed to harmful vibrations can

cause serious injuries and diseases. For that reason, lots of researches and studies

are very interested to reduce the vibrations to the accepted percentage for that

certain environment. They also have found many methods and strategies in order to

achieve their target percentage of the vibrations.

Vibrations in agriculture environment is a very wide subject and lots of researchers

spend their time to find a solution to reduce the vibrations there. This is because

there are lots of employers who work there by operating the agriculture tractors

have serious injuries that affects their health. There are many ways of attenuating

the agriculture tractors vibrations such as using chassis or suspension seat.

1
When designing an agriculture tractors with rigid chassis to have the stability in

case of moving and lifting heavy loads, they can be able to maneuver easier while

keeping the heavy loads stable. However; rigid chassis have more disadvantage then

their advantages to be used in the agriculture tractors such as they result in all

vibrations when driving the truck over rough terrain. Thus, vibrations are

transferred to the operators of agriculture tractors as there is no strategy to absorb

and dissipate the vibrations.

In the other hands, suspension seats are more efficient in attenuating the agriculture

tractors vibrations due to their light weight, easy to assemble and manufacture,

having spring and stiffness to absorb and dissipate vibrations and low cost compare

to the chassis. Many more information and working principle regarding the

suspensions seats are investigated widely in this project in order to have the best

available suspension seat that can work perfectly to attenuate the agriculture

vibrations in Malaysia.

International industries produce many rules and boundaries in order to have a

perfect suspension seat such as ISO organizer. It gives the way of how the

suspension seat should be designed in regarding the dimensions and what are the

frequency that the suspension seat should attenuate in a certain environment. It also

gives the weight requirements that a suspension seat should accommodate and many

more. Then finally ISO produces the rules when testing a suspension seat before

put it in the market and make it available for the society. Thus, this can help a lot to

have an efficient suspension seat that attenuating the agriculture vibrations. It is also

a big useful tool for the designers to design and develop a suspension seat. ISO

2
gains its requirements and rules from lots of researches, studies and experience that

have been done and are approved and related to agriculture vibrations.

1.2 Problem statement

There are many problems that are associated with agriculture tractors that are

enough to encourage mechanical designers to design and develop a suspension seat

for agriculture tractors. Moreover, there are many problems with the current

suspension seats of the agriculture tractors as they are not efficient to attenuate the

agriculture vibration to a percentage that is suggested by ISO (19; 20; 21; 22).

Generally, agriculture tractors operators are extremely exposed to whole-body

vibration. Due to the conditions of their work which is the agriculture environment

and because this environment has damp, dirty and dusty conditions. Thus, this

agriculture environment makes the operators exposed by extremely whole-body

vibration while the operators performing their work. Although some operators are

not affected by the whole vibration directly, they can be effected in the midterm by

chronic disease. Hence, they are not able to perform their work anymore or their

efficiency of doing the work is excessively decreased. More about the illness that

are caused by whole body vibration are discussed in the next chapter.

Current passive suspension seat with conventional spring stiffness do not have the

quality to attenuate the low frequency and high amplitude vibrations. Researchers

found that the agriculture frequency is mostly vertical and in the range between 0

to 20Hz and the low frequency of the human body part is between 4 to 9 Hz and

this is associated with the pelvis in the human body. Hence, the possibility of the

3
resonance frequency to occur between the frequency of the pelvis and the

agriculture frequency is high. To attenuate that vertical vibration, the suspension

seat has to have a low natural frequency. However, the current passive suspension

seats have high spring stiffness rate and so they have high natural frequency. In

order to have a soft spring that has a low spring stiffness to give a low natural

frequency of the suspension system, the suspension system needs more traveling

distance and this is not provided in the agriculture tractors.

1.3 Objectives

Associated model have been identified for the purpose of the implementation of the

developed model as a whole. Towards achieving the main objective, the related

aims associated are identified as follows:

i. To design and develop a suspension seat of agriculture tractor.

ii. To compare different stiffness of the spring and how it effects the vibration

isolation system.

4
1.4 Scope of study

Suspension system is vital to attenuate vibration transmitted to the body. The scope

of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the suspension seat when using

different stiffness of the spring. In order to achieve the objective, a simple

suspension system is designed and fabricated. Three different spring with stiffness:

(i) 10 kN/m (ii) 12 kN/m and (iii) 15 kN/m are tested. GT300M Shaker is used to

generate the vibration signal.

Next is the project financial, the maximum amount that supports the project by the

university is RM 500. Thus, this should be taken in account when designing the

suspension seat and try to make the cost of designing and developing the suspension

seat within this amount.

5
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

In this chapter, a selection of relevant papers is reviewed which are related to the

design of suspension seat of agriculture tractor. This investigation served as a basis

and starting point for several decisions made based on the previous projects. Whole-

body vibration, seats of agriculture tractors, working principles of suspension seats,

passive suspension seats with nonlinear springs and overview of standards

investigation are the subtopics that are presented in this chapter.

2.1 Whole-body vibration (WBV)

Whole body vibration is a term used when the whole environment is in motion and

the effect of that is not specified to a particular point. The human body has high

sensitivity of many motions; hence these motions can cause sufficient whole-body

vibration. The nature of the vibration, the characteristics of the exposed persons and

the effects of the vibration may differ from one environment to another. And hence

6
the three above contribute to the cause-effect model of human response to the

vibration. Each system has its own percentage to accept the vibration and this leads

to different views of the vibration and affects the study on how to reduce that whole-

body vibration.

There are five effects of human response to the vibration namely: degrade comfort,

interference with activities, impaired health, perception of low-magnitude vibration

and the occurrence of motion sickness. The effects of vibration on the human body

is a matter of the vibration extent and the vibration manner. Along with these two

is the intensity frequency wither is low, medium or high intensity frequency. The

intensity frequency leads to huge effect on the comfort and health issues. The

following is a table of health effects due to whole-body vibration corresponding to

resonance frequencies.

Table 2.1: Health effects due to whole-body vibration corresponding to resonance

frequencies
Health effects due to whole-body Frequencies (Hz)
General feeling of discomfort 4-9
Head symptoms 13-20
Lower Jaw symptoms 6-8
Influence on speech 13-20
Lump in throat 12-16
Chest Pains 5-7
Abdominal pains 4-10
Urge to urinate 10-18
Increased muscle tone 13-20
Influence on breathing movements 4-8
Muscle contractions 4-9

7
2.1.1 Effects of whole-body vibration on operators of agriculture tractors

Operators of agriculture tractors are ones of the vehicles operators who are

extremely exposed to high vibration due to the nature of their off-road condition.

Their exposure to high vibration will put their health and safety at risk. The risk is

increasing when the vibration magnitudes are high with low frequency and

combined with awkward posture and this leads to excessive risk of injuries and

disorders. Low back pain and degeneration of intervertebral disc are highly

associated to operators of agriculture tractors and the cause of this is the whole-

body vibration.

Moreover, researchers show that the operators of agriculture tractors who are

extremely exposure to whole-body vibration will first be affected to their sight and

ability to properly control their hand and foot. Hence, the operators become less

responsive and as a results, poor workmanship and accidents may take place.

Besides, some researchers have associated the operators of agriculture tractors to be

fatigued; thus, they will not run their machine properly.

Financial effects are also caused by whole-body vibration of the operators of

agriculture tractors. Injuries and disorders force the operators to retirement early

and then inexperienced operators will be hired. Thus, possibility of more accidents

increases as well as the cost of more insurance rates and the cost of the work.

Besides, fatigued operators will cost the employers more money and time to

complete the work.

8
As a result, the need of designing a suspension seat for agriculture tractor increases

in order to overcome the health risk, safety risk and financial effects which are

caused by the whole-body vibration.

2.2 Seat of agriculture tractor

The distribution of vibration on the body is very important to study it in order to

account the perception of whole-body vibration and its effects on the agriculture

tractors operators comfort, activities and health. And the distribution of vibration

depends on two main factors which are the posture of the body and by the vibration

at the interfaces between the body and the environment. Hence; these two factors

are determined by the design of agriculture tractors seats and on its transmissibility.

2.2.1 The optimum seat

The optimum seat is the seat that is comfortable and have the ability to help to

attenuate the vibration that is exposure by the agriculture tractors operators. And

this can be determined by some factors which are presented below:

9
2.2.1.1 Static properties of seating

On the static conditions an agriculture tractors seats should be statically in

equilibrium position with the minimum need of operators muscular effort to avoid

the muscular fatigue of the operators. Thus, low muscular effort demands that the

body of operators has to be fully supported in all three translations axes when it is

in contact with the seat, seat back and the tractors floor. Lumbar, thoracic and

cervical vertebrae, pelvis, head, arms and legs can be in a comfortable set of curves

and angles. A comfortable spine position for the agriculture tractors operates

requires the provision of lumbar support.

There are two types of the forces that act on the operators body from the seats

which are perpendicular forces and tangential forces. The tangential forces are

always not desirable because they act due to the backrest that pushing the lower

operators body forward. Effects of tangential forces of the seats that act on the

agriculture tractors operators can be reduced by setting the foot position of

operators and inkling the seat.

Contoured seat surface and compliant seat have advantages in agriculture tractors

seats in terms of increasing the contact area (between the operators body and ischial

tuberosities) to reduce the pressure on the ischial tuberosities area that supports the

most of the operators weight. Advantages of compliant seats include softer to drop

into, distribute the pressure around ischial tuberosities, attenuate vibration, fit

different types of people and more comfortable than hard seats. However; too much

softer seats can cause problems to the tractors operators by giving an excessive

pressure to the hips and thighs of the operators.

10
2.2.1.2 Dynamic properties of seating

Optimum dynamic properties aid in isolating the vertical vibration responses of the

tractors operators in their agriculture environment. There are three factors to have

an efficient dynamically seat which are the vibration environment, the seat dynamic

response and the human response. For example, in agriculture tractors environment,

designers are concerning to eliminate 4 Hz frequency as it is the minimum spine

frequency that causes many problems to the operators. In the case of the seat

dynamic response, dynamic seat response requires the knowing of vibration spectra

in agriculture environment and the desired criterion (preservation of the operators

spine). Next is the human response, human response of operators helps to set the

dynamic set response in order to attenuate the minimum vertical frequency in

agriculture environment.

The dynamic properties of tractors seat should be able to reduce the forces in the

vertebral column that arise partly from forces exerted by muscles to minimize the

need of muscular effort of the operators. And because these forces lead to

discomfort and injuries to tractors operators. This can be done by finding the best

postures of operators body in the dynamic condition of the tractors. Having a

proper posture leads to well distribution of forces on the spine of operators.

11
2.2.1.3 Seat isolation

In general, the suspension seats of tractors can be described by a single-degree-of-

freedom system with a rigid mass, a linear spring and a damper. Then the

transmissibility of the system is a ratio of the input excitation frequency to the

natural frequency of the system. The transmissibility increases as the damping

decreases at the resonance frequency stage; however, the transmissibility increases

as the damping increases at high frequency. To have an isolation seat, the natural

frequency of the suspension seat times 1.4 has to be lower than the input excitation

frequency to the system. As higher as the excitation frequency than the natural

frequency, a better isolation can be achieved with low damping.

The basic idea of an effective suspension seat of tractors is that to use low stiffness

and low damping and by using these two systems the natural frequency of the

suspension seat can be guaranteed to be lower. The natural frequency and the

deflection of the suspension seat are depended on the spring stiffness.

However; describing the vibrating mass in the agriculture tractors as a rigid mass is

not adequate to have a good analysis of the system. Thus, other explanations are

needed and next two of the founded consequences are presented: any dynamic

model of a seat-person combination must normally be more complex than a single-

degree-of-freedom system and transmissibility cannot be easily measured by

loading seats with a rigid mass having the weight of the human body.

12
2.2.2 Measurement of seat transmissibility in the laboratory

When it is difficult to measure the response of the agriculture tractors suspension

seats in the reality, laboratory measurements can be the solution. There are some

advantages that are associated with laboratory measurements such as the input

spectrum are adjusted and thus, determining the transmissibility at all frequencies

are easily achieved. Second advantage is that measuring the transmissibility in each

axis can be done in the laboratory.

Similar results can be obtained from the laboratory measurements as those from the

reality conditions. However; if the input spectrum in the laboratory highly differs

from the filed spectrum, a different result of the transmissibility measurements will

be achieved. But in the case, the spectra of the field and the laboratory are identical,

the laboratory advantages will not be there anymore.

2.2.3 Seat effective amplitude transmissibility

Seat effective amplitude transmissibility determines the efficiency of the seat to

reduce the vertical vibration. Seat effective amplitude transmissibility can be

measure on the laboratory by measuring the vertical vibration on the seat surface

and at the base of the seat and is given by the following formula:

1/2
() 2 ()
% = [ () 2 () ] 100 (2.1)

13
Where;

SEAT: Seat effective amplitude transmissibility

(): acceleration power spectra of the seat

(): acceleration power spectra of the floor

(): the frequency weighting for the human response to vibration on the seat

The integrals on the above equation is calculated by taking the frequency range

from 0.5 to 80 Hz when the resonance vibration is occurred on the floor.

When assessing the seat, 100% value of SEAT means that the seat does not

contribute in any improvement in vibration discomfort because the acceleration on

the seat is the same acceleration on the floor and no amount of the acceleration is

reduced by the seat. If more than one 100% of SEAT value was obtained by the

measurement on the laboratory, this means that the seat contributes in increasing

the vibration discomfort and the seat amplifies vibration. In addition, acceleration

on the seat is higher than that on the floor and thus more vertical vibration was

transferred to the tractors occupants. In the case of less than 100% of SEAT value

was obtained, it means the useful isolation amount that the seat is contributed to.

And the acceleration on the seat is less than that on the floor thus the seat is efficient

in terms of reducing the vertical vibration which is exposed by the occupant of

agriculture tractors. To make it clearer, a 50% value of SEAT indicates the seat is

more efficient and produces half of vibration discomfort when the seat is compared

with a seat having 100% SEAT value. In summary, when the SEAT% decreases the

14
seat efficiency of reducing the vertical vibration of an agriculture tractors

occupants increases.

2.3 Working principles of suspension seats

An agriculture tractor suspension seat is modeled to provide a protection to the

agriculture tractor operators from the vertical vibration. The suspension seat must

have a natural frequency less than the tractor dominant frequency and must be able

to minimize the root mean-square acceleration (RMS) level of the driver in

accordance with international organization for standardization (ISO) comforts

level. The suspension system for the agriculture tractor is usually placed between

the driver seat and the tractor body. The general suspension seat of an agriculture

tractor has a spring and damper.

Spring

It is a mechanical device that has the ability to store vibration and shocks when it

compresses. Springs are placed between the driver seat and the tractor body. The

spring is compressed and expanded according to the condition of the road. When

the agriculture tractor faces a bump on the road the tractor body will compress the

spring thus the spring will store energy. Then the spring will release that energy and

will expend. The tractor is affected by the spring deformation in length in a way

that the tractor will move up and down with gradually decreased amplitude due to

the internal friction of the spring material and friction of the suspension joints.

The spring has a force proportional to its deformation in the length and is given by:

15
 = (2.2)

Where;

: spring force due to compressed or stretched spring (N)

: spring constant stiffness (N/m)

: spring deflection due to the compression or extension (m)

Damper

It is a mechanical device that uses its resistant of motion to absorb energy, hence;

reduces the vibration. One of the most important aspect in choosing the damper is

the fluid in it that provides viscous friction. An effective damper has to be able to

attenuate the full range of the expected frequencies in the working condition. The

damper force is given by:

= (2.3)

Where;

: damper force that resists the motion (N)

: the damping coefficient (N/m s-1)

: the velocity (m/s)

16
2.3.1 Active suspension seats

Active suspension seats are not commonly used due to their high cost and the

required power from the seating system. However; they are the most efficient seats

in overcoming the vertical vibrations among the three suspension seats. They have

the ability to suppress vertical vibration in the range of 1 to 7 Hz which make them

an ideal vibration isolation. They consist of spring, damper and actuator. The

actuators have the ability of creating energy as well as dissipating energy. This

ability gives the active suspension seats of suppressing the low frequency vibrations

in 1 to 7 Hz range.

2.3.2 Semi-active suspension seats

Semi-active suspension seats are not uncommon neither are so common. They are

somehow between the common passive seats and uncommon active seats. They

give a better vibration isolation better than the passive seats. However; they cannot

fully suppress the low-frequencies vibration in the range of 1 to 7 Hz. They consist

of spring and active damper which usually uses electro-rheological (ER) or

magneto-rheological (MR) fluid to damp the vertical vibrations actively. Semi-

active suspension seats work like this, a sensor to identify the tractor vibrations and

a controller to control the flow and the time of the fluid damper.

17
2.3.3 Passive suspension seats

Passive suspension seats are the most common suspension seats type due to their

cheap price and simplicity of the system. They generally consist of a linear spring

and damper. They do not have the ability of attenuating the low-frequencies

vibrations in the range of 1 to 7 Hz. This is because the large required space of travel

of the suspension seat to isolate the vertical vibrations. Their transfer function is

given by:

2
= 2 (2.4)
+ 2 + 2

To have an efficient isolation, which is the vertical distance of the suspension seat

has to be equal to mins and should be 1/4 to 1/5 of the lowest frequency input.

Hence; to attenuate a vertical vibration of 1 Hz needs a suspension seat with 0.25

Hz natural of frequency and very large distance of the seat travel. Thus, this very

large distance requirement of the suspension seat to travel is not practical to have it

and this make the passive suspension seat is not able to isolate the low frequency

vertical vibrations. However; passive suspension seats can be more efficient to

isolate the low frequency vertical vibrations with some improvements on it which

is to use nonlinear spring or more than one spring.

18
2.4 Passive suspension seat with nonlinear spring

Some passive suspension seat uses nonlinear springs or more than one spring to be

more efficient and cancel the vertical vibrations that are exposed by the agriculture

tractors operators. Next is more explanation about the nonlinearity and how it

makes the suspension seats more efficient.

2.4.1 Nonlinearity:

Nonlinearity occurs when the displacement and its derivatives appear in the same

equation of motion with the power of two or more. A nonlinear problem has the

ability to expect a phenomenon that is not identified by the linear problem. The

following is an example of the equation of motion and a figure of nonlinear system:

1
+ 2 ( 6 3 ) = 0 (2.5)

Figure 2.1: Free body diagram of rotational nonlinear system (17)

19
2.4.2 Nonlinear spring stiffness:

A nonlinear spring stiffness does not obey Hookes law (equation 2.4) which states

that the force needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance is

proportional to that distance. In other words, the force distance curve is not

straight line any more or = = is not the case anymore.

A good isolation system requires that the stiffness is low (softer spring) to lower the

natural frequency and hence maximum possible vibration can be isolated and

provide more comfort. However, this does not mean that the spring has low stiffness

through its range. It only requires that the spring has low stiffness at the equilibrium

position (primary value) and then the value increases or decreases depends upon the

design decision and masses of the operators. A nonlinear spring stiffness is the

solution of this case because the spring stiffness is not constant and can very to

reach maximum isolation.

To get a softer spring (low natural frequency spring) with nonlinear system it does

not require a sufficient space to allow for full travel as the case in the linear spring.

And more real-life applications do not provide the sufficient space for full travel for

the suspension system.

20
There are two types of isolators with nonlinear spring stiffness have been

accomplished to deal with the insufficient space:

2.4.2.1 Hard spring

= is increasing function of and the spring is called hard spring. This means

that the spring is stiffer as the deflection increasing as shown on the graph below.

Figure 2.2: Hard spring (17)

21
2.4.2.2 Soft spring:

= is decreasing function of and the spring is called soft spring. This means

that the spring is stiff at low deflection and gets softer at high deflection as shown

on the graph below.

Figure 2.3: Soft spring (17)

22
2.5 Overview of standards investigation

In this part, the overview of all the standards that will be followed in this paper are

going to be listed briefly and introduced.

2.5.1 ISO 11112:1995 Earth-moving machinery -- Operator's seat --

Dimensions and requirements

11112 standard states the minimum dimensions allowable when designing a seat of

agriculture tractors. The standard states the dimensions of the width of the seat base.

It also provides the armrests dimensions when fitting on the agriculture tractors.

Figure 1 of page 2 in the standard identifies the maximum and minimum dimensions

with labelled sketch and a corresponding table.

2.5.2 ISO 7096:2000 Earth-moving machinery -- Laboratory evaluation of

operator seat vibration

ISO 7096 is created to help engineers design of and testing the suspension seat of

vehicles that are exposed to low frequency between 0 to20 Hz. The standard talks

about the method of measuring and evaluating and the provision of an acceptable

amount of the whole-body vibration that is transferred to the operators of the

agriculture tractors during simulated vertical vibration. There is an acceleration

power spectral density function for each of the four classes of earth-moving

machinery which are scrapers, loaders, crawlers and graders. The vertical vibration

23
that should be applied at the base of the seat during a laboratory test is given by

acceleration power spectral density functions. There is a damping test is defined by

this standard to determine the maximum transmissibility of the tractors seat. The

acceptable level of maximum frequency -weighted vertical acceleration is 1.25 m

s-2 r.m.s on the seat and the maximum transmissibility is 2.

2.5.3 ISO 10326-1:2016 Mechanical vibrationLaboratory method for

evaluating vehicle seat vibration Part 1: Basic requirements

10326 standard states the requirements that has to be followed when testing

vibration transmissibility from the machine through a seat suspension system to the

operator. And it also states the equipment that has to be used when testing is

conducting. The standard mentions that the vehicle type need to be considered to

specify the simulated test vibration in the laboratory and this is given by the time

history of an actual and representative signal. The number of measure points,

frequency amplitude spacing and sampling rate are specified by the application of

10326 standards.

24
 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter presents how the researches of this project are carried by explains all

the methods and procedures of the project. Next figure 3.1 shows a flowchart.

Methods and procedures were done by referring to ISO Internationals Standards in

order to get a perfect and efficient suspension seat of the agriculture tractors and

make it able to reduce the vertical vibrations.

25
 Start

Find Design Parameters

Design 3 conceptual suspension seats

Design selection method, final

detailed design and fabrication

Calculation of the springs stiffness

Predict the mode shape of the fabricated suspension

seat

Conduct the laboratory test

Analysing and assessment of the

suspension seat transmissibility

Result Comparison and judgment

End

Figure 3.1: Project flowchart

26
3.1 Design parameters

3.1.1 Industrial Standards and Testing

When designing the suspension seat and when testing it, the suspension seat

has to be within the following international standards:

ISO 11112:1995 Earth-moving machinery -- Operator's seat --

Dimensions and requirements

ISO 7096:2000 Earth-moving machinery -- Laboratory evaluation

of operator seat vibration

ISO 10326-1:2016 Mechanical vibration -- Laboratory method for

evaluating vehicle seat vibration -- Part 1: Basic requirements

ISO 2631-1:1997 Mechanical vibration and shock Evaluation of

human exposure to whole-body vibration Part 1: General

requirements

3.1.2 Performance

Suspension seat should be able to reduce the input vertical displacement

which is transmitted through the suspension seat to the tractors operators.

27
3.1.3 Environment

Suspension seat has to be designed to work in range of temperature between

23o C to 34o C.

The product when designed will be exposed to damp, dirty and dusty

environment and it should not affect its quality on the work.

3.1.4 Manufacturing

Several numbers of stiffness will be applied to the suspension seat to compare

between them and several masses are applied, for that reason the suspension seat

should be easy to assemble and disassemble and ready to accept more than one

spring or change springs.

3.1.5 Scaling and sizing

All the parameters have to be scaled down to make the suspension seat

perfectly inserted on the GT300M Shaker.

The suspension seat weight has to be within the 70 kg as it is required by

the GT300M Shaker.

The suspension seat cost should be within RM500.

28
 Table 3.1:Actual general parameter for suspension seat

Total cost of suspension seat RM 2300 (more than the project

financial)
Mass of person (heavy weight) 103 kg
Mass of suspension seat 30 kg
Total mass of person and suspension 133 kg (more than the shaker
seat requirements)

Table 3.2: Scaled general parameters for suspension seat

Scaling 1/5
Price Within RM 500
Mass of person (heavy weight) 20 kg
Mass of suspension seat 6 kg
Total mass of person and suspension 26 kg (affordable by the shaker)
seat

3.1.6 Applied force

The suspension seat has to be able to carry at least 20 kg of mass which is

around 200 N of force.

29
 3.2 Design 3 conceptual suspension seats

When all the scaled parameters are scaled down and are discussed carefully three

conceptual designs are produced. A Cad/Cam software, drawing and pictures are

used to explain the conceptual design and show its specifications, features and

advantages. Present designs on the market are used as references and to have some

new creativities on the conceptual designs.

Table 3.3: Conceptual designs

Part Conceptual Conceptual Conceptual
1 2 3
Inline springs Cross combined spring and Corners springs
damper
Platform

Rubber spring Combined elastomer Steel Coil spring

combined spring and damper
Springs

30
 Table 3.4: Pros and cons of conceptual designs

Platform Spring

Can install up to 4 Tougher than the steel

springs and one damper
Easy to assemble and
Conceptual design 1 disassemble
Low noise
No need for lubrication
It can be shaped to any
shape as required
Higher deflection than
the steel

Cut cost of springs and Combined spring and

dampers damper
Conceptual design 2 More travel space for
the suspension system

Has spring at each Light weight

corner Has different types
Springs can easily Cheap
Conceptual design 3 install on the Stiffer than the rubber
suspension seat Can support heavy load
supporters and no need Low deflection
to make a space for Higher elastic than
springs rubber
Easy to assemble and
disassemble
Provide more stability
and mas distribution

3.3 Design selection method, final detailed design and fabrication

Conceptual designs were investigated in this stage to get the best conceptual design

to use it for the agriculture tractors and testing. First Pughis weighting table was

used to compare the general deign of the three conceptual designs and select two

designs:

31
 Table 3.5: Pughis weighting table

Concept
Design
CD1 CD2 CD3
Inline springs Cross combined Corners springs
springs and damper
selection criteria weighting rating weighting rating weighting rating weighting
score score score
Ease of installing and 20% 3 12% 1 4% 5 20%

removing springs

manufacturability 20% 4 16% 3 12% 5 20%

Ease of assembly and 20% 5 20% 3 12% 5 20%

disassembly

Overall cost 20% 3 12% 4 16% 3 12%

Weight 10% 3 6% 4 8% 3 6%

Easily of installing 5% 1 1% 5 5% 1 1%

two dampers

Travelling space 5% 3 3% 4 4% 3 3%

Total score 100% 70% 61% 82%

Continuity Develop No Develop

Then Pughis scoring method was applied to compare between the mechanical

properties of the two remaining conceptual designs which are conceptual one (inline

springs) and three (corners springs).

32
 Table 3.6: Mechanical properties scoring

COMPONENT Scoring criteria Steel coil Rubber spring

spring
Diversity + 0
High yield strength + -
High elasticity + -
Sufficient stiffness + -
Sufficient toughness - +
SPRING High deflection - +
Low elongation + -
Light weight 0 -
Low cost 0 0
Nosiness - +
Lubrication - +
1 -1
TOTAL NET SCORE

Where;

+: VERY GOOD, 0: OK and -: VERY BAD

Thus, conceptual design 3 (corners springs) was chosen.

Then, a full detailed cad drawing was produced includes the whole dimensions to

fabricate.

Figure 3.2: Full detailed design of suspension seat

33
The suspension seat consists of lower plate, upper plate, four rods and four springs.

The four rods are welded on the lower plate and upper plate is freely moving on the

rods but it is constrained by the springs. The material of suspension seat not include

the springs is steel.

Next is the fabricated suspension seat:

Figure 3.3: Fabricated suspension seat

34
3.4 Calculation of the springs stiffness,

Spring stiffness is very important aspect in this project as one of the project

objectives is to find three different spring stiffness, test them and judge them.

Market suspension seats springs and inventor software are the tools to find three

different spring stiffness. Details on how the calculations were done on finding the

three types of stiffness by Inventor software are in appendix B.

3.4.1 Soft spring (lowest stiffness with highest stroke)

This soft spring has the lowest stiffness among the three springs which is 2.5 kN/m

but it has the highest stroke which is 23.5 mm.

Figure 3.4: Fabricated soft spring

35
3.4.2 Moderate spring (moderate stiffness with moderate stroke)

This moderate spring has the medium stiffness among the three springs which is 3

kN/m and it has the medium stroke which is 19.5 mm.

Figure 3.5: Fabricated moderate spring

3.4.3 Hard spring (highest stiffness with lowest stroke)

This hard spring has the highest stiffness among the three springs which is 3.75

kN/m but it has the lowest stroke which is 15 mm.

Figure 3.6: Fabricated hard spring

36
3.5 Prediction of the mode shape of the fabricated suspension seat

Prior conducting the laboratory test on the suspension seat, theoretical calculations

were done to see how the suspension seat reacts and see the mode shape of the

system; thus, the displacement and force transmissibility were found. The system

was assumed to be single degree of freedom forced vibration of an undamped spring

mass system.

Figure 3.7: Single degree of freedom forced vibration of an undamped spring

mass system

Three different masses were included in the calculations 5kg, 10kg and 20kg this

plus the 1kg mass of the upper plate. Also, three different spring stiffness which

were found in the previous section were manipulated. The stiffness are 2.5 kN/m, 3

KN/m and 3.75 KN/m. As there would be used four springs of the same stiffness

then change the type of the springs, the equivalent stiffness was calculated below:

Parallel springs;

= 1 + 2 + 3 (3.1)

37
 Table 3.7: Equivalent stiffness of each type of springs

Springs Equivalent stiffness(KN/m)

Soft Spring 10
Moderate Spring 12
Hard Spring 15

The working frequency were 0 to 20 Hz. The natural frequency for the three types

of springs and with the three mass that were being used is calculated by:

= (3.2)

= (3.3)
2

: natural frequency of the suspension seat (rad/s)

: natural frequency of the suspension seat (Hz)

: equivalent spring stiffness of the suspension seat (N/m)

: the mass that are exposed by the spring (kg)

38
 Table 3.8: Natural frequency of the system for different stiffness and masses

Springs Mass(kg) Natural frequency Natural frequency

(rad/s) (Hz)
6 40.2 6.4
Soft Spring 11 29.7 4.7
21 21.5 3.4
6 44 7.02
Moderate Spring 11 32.6 5.2
21 23.6 3.8
6 50 7.96
Hard Spring 11 36.9 5.9
21 26.7 4.3

3.5.1 Force transmissibility

The theoretical force transmissibility is calculated by:

1
= (3.4)
2
( ) 1

Where;

: transmissibility vibration through seat suspension system to the operator

: natural frequency of the suspension seat (Hz)

: the input excitation frequency to the suspension system (Hz).

39
 FORCE TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 5Kg
200

TRANSMISSIBILITY
100

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-100

-200
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

FORCE TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 10Kg

40
TRANSMISSIBILITY

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-20
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

FORCE TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 20Kg

20
TRANSMISSIBILITY

10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-10
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

Figure 3.8: Graphs of force transmissibility of the three stiffness at 5,10 and 20kg

Where;

Spring 1 is the soft spring, spring 2 the moderate spring and spring 3 is the hard

spring.

These three graphs describe the mode shape of the three springs and how they were

going to response to the vertical vibrations when performing the testing. The Soft

Spring (blue colour) gave the best reduction in the transmissibility from the three

40
graphs. While the moderate spring (orange colour) had the highest transmissibility

at 5 and 20 kg. The hard Spring had (black colour) the highest transmissibility at 10

kg.

3.5.2 Displacement Transmissibility

The displacement transmissibility is calculated by:

= (3.5)
( ( 2 ))

X: displacement at the excited base of the suspension seat

: displacement at the upper plate of the suspension seat

: working frequency of the suspension seat (rad/s)

: equivalent spring stiffness of the suspension seat (N/m)

: the mass that are exposed by the spring (kg)

41
 DISPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 5Kg
600
TRANSMISSIBILITY
DISPLACEMENT
400
200
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-200
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

DISPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 10Kg

40
TRANSMISSIBILITY
DISPLACEMENT

20
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-20
-40
-60
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

DISPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIBILITY AT 20Kg

10
TRANSMISSIBILITY
DISPLACEMENT

5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-5
-10
-15
WORKING FREQUENCY (Hz)

spring 1 spring 2 spring 3

Figure 3.9: Graphs of displacement transmissibility of the three stiffness at 5,10 and
20kg

Where;

Spring 1 is the soft spring, spring 2 the moderate spring and spring 3 is the hard

spring.

42
Displacement transmissibility graphs give different results comparing to the force

transmissibility. As the soft spring gave the highest transmissibility at 5 and 10 kg.

However; at 20 kg, the results were same as the force transmissibility, the soft spring

gave the lowest transmissibility and the moderate spring showed highest

transmissibility.

3.6 Conducting the laboratory test

3.6.1 Equipment

Laptop (LMS software): to setup the input parameters for the vibration and control

the shaker (switching on and switching off). The input parameters were random

vibration, 256 Hz sample of frequency, 1024 spectral lines, 0.125 Hz resolution, 8

s acquisition time and the vibration magnitude was manipulated to give 0.5, 1 and

1 m/s2 input acceleration.

Figure 3.10: Laptop (LMS software)

43
SCM210V LMS SCADAS: it is a connection between the laptop and the amplifier.

Figure 3.11: SCM210V LMS SCADAS

Amplifier: it is the power supply to the shaker and it is a connection between the

LMS SCADAS and the shaker. It amplifies the shaker and it manger the power that

goes to the shaker. It is also a safety equipment since it switches off when there is

a risk for the shaker.

Figure 3.12: Amplifier (power supply)

GT300M Shaker: it gives the vibration and shakes the suspension seat. It is limited

by 70 kg of mass.

Figure 3.13: GT300M Shaker

44
Adash VA4Pro Vibration Analyzer: to select the type of results will be analysed

susch as sectrum and transmissibility. It is connected to the accelometers. And it

analysis the resulats and give the raw results to be transfarred to the excel.

Figure 3.14: Adash VA4Pro Vibration Analyzer

Accelerometer: is attached to the surface that needed to see its vibration and is

connected to the Adash to record the vibration. Two accelerometers were used with

sensitivity of 99.23 the one on the excited base and 99.27 the one on the upper plate.

This two accelerometers give a data on the vertical vibration only (y-axis).

Figure 3.15: On the left 99.23 sensitivity accelerometer attached to the excited
base, and on the right 99.27 sensitivity accelerometer attached to the upper plate

Long Screw: to secure the masses on the upper plate and not allow them to move

or throw away during the testing.

Figure 3.16: Long screw with two nuts and two washers

45
Laptop with excel software and MATLAB: to process the data after the testing

finished and plot the data in a graph to easily read them and compare them.

Figure 3.17: Laptop with excel software

3.6.2 Schematic diagram

Figure 3.18: Testing schematic diagram

The schematic diagram explains how the testing has been done and it show all the

connections in order to get the results.

46
3.6.3 Procedures

The test was done by manipulating three masses, three spring types and three input

vibration magnitudes. The masses were 5, 10 and 20kg. Springs were the soft

spring, the moderate spring and the hard spring. The vibration magnitudes were 0.5,

1 and 1.5 m/s2. Thus, there were 27 tests.

1. First of all, all the wires were connected such as the laptop was connected

to the LMS SCADAS, the LMS SCADAS was connected to the amplifier

and the accelerometers were connected to Adash.

2. The laptop, LMS SCADAS, amplifier, shaker and the Adash were switched

on.

3. LMS software were opened and all the input parameters were entered with

0.5m/s2 vibration magnitude.

4. The suspension seat was attached by four units of the soft spring (10 kN/m)

with the 5kg mass was secured on the suspension seat using the long screw.

5. Then the suspension seat was secured on the shaker.

6. Next, the accelerometers were attached on the base and upper plate of the

suspension seat.

Figure 3.19: Suspension seat is secured on the shaker and is ready for the testing

47
 7. The amplifier was started and the shaker was ready to vibrate.

8. The shake started vibrating by hitting start on LMS software.

9. Then the Adash was started analysing the vibration.

10. After the Adash finished the reading, the shaker stopped vibrating by hitting

stop on the LMS software.

11. The results were saved as csv file in the Adash.

12. The Adash was disconnected with accelerometers, switched off and it was

connected to the laptop to for processing the results.

13. The results were saved in the laptop and they were plotted in a graph using

excel and MATLAB software.

14. Next the test was done using same mass of 5kg with 1 and 1 m/s^2 vibration

magnitudes.

15. Then the test was done by manipulating the springs, masses and the

vibration magnitudes.

3.7 Analysing and assessment of the suspension seat transmissibility

The suspension seat is assessed and analysed by looking at the vibration

transmission, transmissibility, phase, coherency and PSD graphs.

3.7.1 Vibration Magnitude (ar.m.s)

Vibration magnitudes were calculated for acceleration measured on the base and on

top of suspension system. And it gives a direct measurement for the vibrations.

48
3.7.2 Power spectral density(PSD)

Power spectral density is calculated by multiplying the Fast Fourier transform by

its complex conjugate and this gives a real signal with power units (squared values)

known as the power spectrum. Only the magnitude data is left as the phase

information is lost. The division of the resulting power spectrum by the frequency

increment is the final computation. This previous step normalizes the measurement

to the fast Fourier transform "filter bandwidth" and converts the power spectrum

into a density function. The unit that measures an acceleration signal PSD is

(m/s2)2/Hz. Stationary signals such as random vibration is usually analyzed by PSD.

3.7.3 Transmissibility

Transmissibility is a measurement of how good is the suspension system of

attenuating the vibration. It is the ration of the vibration between two surfaces. If

the transmissibility less than one, this means the suspension system working

affectively in reducing the vibration. But if the transmissibility larger than one this

means the suspension system reverses its work and it amplifies vibration. The worst

situation of the transmissibility occurs when the natural frequency of a system

coincides with the working frequency that is applied to the excited surface.

49
3.7.4 Phase

It is a very important aspect in the vibration measurements and it can provide a

valuable insight into the causes of the vibrations and how to reduce it. It is a measure

of the relative time between two signals. and the phase angle measures the

difference between reference point and measurement point in terms of friction of a

cycle for the frequency range. There are two types of the phase angle in phase and

out phase. In phase when both the reference and measured point move smoothly

and in the same direction. On the other hand, out phase it means the reference point

and measured point move in different direction.

3.7.5 Coherency

Coherency graph is related to frequency response function (FRF) and it make it

clear the degree of correlation of one signal with a second signal. Coherence is in

the range of 0 to 1 and it is a function of frequency. In modal analysis, the quality

of a measurement is shown by coherency. If a vibration response that is produced

by the shaker correlates perfectly with the shaker, this means the shaker is good,

and this can be shown by a coherence plot that near one through the entire

frequency. If the coherence plot drops below one, this means there is some other

source of vibration that is produced by other sources not only the shaker.

50
3.8 Result Comparison and justification

After finding the results by conducting the test, tables and graphs of the findings

were plotted in a way that makes it easy to compare the three springs of the system

and to give a proper justification on which is the suitable spring for the system and

which one should not be used in the system in order to attenuate a maximum vertical

vibration that makes an uncomfortable situation for the agriculture tractors

operators.

51
 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter show all the laboratory test findings which are the vibration

magnitudes, power spectral density graphs and transmissibility graphs. Then the

findings are discussed and comparing with each other in order to state the final

decision on which spring between the three is the best in reducing the vertical

transmissibility that is exposed by the agriculture tractors operators while doing

their work. Vibration magnitude and Power spectral density (PSD) have three

groups of findings based on the mass as well as the transmissibility. And at each

mass, there are one table and three graphs based on the input acceleration and each

graph has three different spring stiffness. Transmissibility include two more graphs

which are phase and coherency to show the accuracy of the findings. In this chapter

spring 1 means the soft spring, spring 2 means the moderate spring and spring 3

means the hard spring.

52
4.1 Vibration magnitude (ar.m.s)

Root-mean square (r.m.s.) vibration magnitudes were calculated for acceleration

measured on the base and on top of suspension system.

Table 4.1: Vibration magnitudes at 5kg

Base (m/s2) Soft Spring (m/s2) Moderate Spring Hard Spring

(m/s2) (m/s2)

0.5 0.2 0.18 0.28

1.0 0.28 0.49 0.44

1.5 0.31 0.61 0.56

Table 4.2: Vibration magnitudes at 10kg

Base (m/s2) Soft Spring (m/s2) Moderate Spring Hard Spring

2(m/s2) (m/s2)

0.5 0.087 0.094 0.17

1.0 0.11 0.14 0.30

1.5 0.24 0.30 0.34

Table 4.3: Vibration magnitudes at 20kg

Base (m/s2) Soft Spring (m/s2) Moderate Spring Hard Spring

2(m/s2) (m/s2)

0.5 0.06 0.15 0.072

1.0 0.095 0.167 0.11

1.5 0.16 0.15 0.17

53
Overall all summary from above tables show that the soft spring has the lowest

vibration magnitude and the hardest spring has the highest vibration magnitude.

Thus, the softest spring is the best in isolating the vibration and the hardest spring

is the poorest in isolating the vibration.

4.2 Power Spectral Density(PSD)

Where;

Spring 1 is the soft spring, spring 2 the moderate spring and spring 3 is the hard

spring.

4.1.1 Testing of PSD at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

Figure 4.1: Testing of PSD at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

From figure 4.1, the soft spring (blue colour) has the lowest value of PSD at its

resonance frequency in the all three graphs at different input acceleration while the

hard spring (green colour) has highest value of PSD at its resonance frequency. The

54
soft spring has PSD of 0.044 (m/s2)2/Hz at 5.75 Hz in the case of 0.5 m/s2

acceleration (lowest acceleration) while the moderate spring (red colour) and the

hard spring have 0.087 and 0.122 (m/s2)2/Hz respectively at the same acceleration.

Power spectral density has highest value at the resonance frequency of 0.36

(m/s2)2/Hz for the hard spring and at the highest acceleration which is 1.5m/s2 while

the moderate spring and the soft spring have 0.25 and 0.14 respectively at the same

acceleration. At 1 m/s2 and at resonance frequency the soft spring achieved 0.096

(m/s2)2/Hz, the moderate spring achieved 0.24 (m/s2)2/Hz and the hard spring

achieved 0.27 (m/s2)2/Hz. Power spectral density (PSD) increases as the

acceleration increases while the resonance frequencies of each spring at which the

highest value of PSD achieved are mostly constant for the all three springs.

Resonance frequency of the soft spring is around 5.75 Hz at all the three

accelerations while resonance frequencies of the moderate spring and the hard

spring are 6 and 7.25 Hz respectively. From all these three graphs at 5 kg and with

0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2, the soft spring gives the best response to the input vertical

vibrations while the hard spring gives the worst response.

55
4.1.2 Testing of PSD at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

Figure 4.2: Testing of PSD at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

Looking at the above graphs and at the resonance frequencies of the three graphs,

the soft spring has the lowest value of PSD which is 0.033 (m/s2)2/Hz at 0.5 m/s2

while the hard spring has the highest value of PSD which is 0.21 (m/s2)2/Hz at 1.5

m/s2. Values of power spectral density at 0.5 m/s2 are 0.033, 0.064 and 0.069

(m/s2)2/Hz for the soft spring, moderate and the hard springs respectively. At 1 m/s2

Power spectral density values are 0.059, 0.087 and 0.17 (m/s2)2/Hz for the soft

spring, moderate and the hard springs respectively. And at 1.5 m/s2 Power spectral

density values are 0.14, 0.20 and 0.21 (m/s2)2/Hz for the soft spring, moderate and

the hard springs respectively. Resonance frequencies at all the acceleration are

around 4 Hz for the soft spring while values for the moderate spring and the hard

springs are 4.75 and 5.5 Hz respectively. From all these three graphs at 10 kg and

with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2, the soft spring gives the best response to the input vertical

vibrations while the hard spring gives the worst response.

56
4.1.3 Testing of PSD at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

Figure 4.3: Testing of PSD at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2

From the last graphs of the power spectral density that are stated at this project and

at the resonance frequencies of the three graphs the soft spring has the lowest value

of PSD which is 0.010 (m/s2)2/Hz at 0.5 m/s2 while the hard spring has the highest

value of PSD which is 0.11 (m/s2)2/Hz at 1.5 m/s2. Values of power spectral density

at 0.5m/s2 are 0.010, 0.012 and 0.037 (m/s2)2/Hz for the soft spring, moderate and

the hard springs respectively. At 1 m/s2 Power spectral density values are 0.031,

0.034 and 0.042 (m/s2)2/Hz for the soft spring, moderate and the hard springs

respectively. And at 1.5 m/s2 Power spectral density values are 0.039, 0.058 and

0.11 (m/s2)2/Hz for the soft spring, moderate and the hard springs respectively.

Resonance frequencies at all the acceleration are around 4.25 Hz for the soft spring

while values for the moderate spring and the hard spring are 3.25 and 4 Hz

respectively. From all these three graphs at 20 kg and with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s2, the

soft spring gives the best response to the input vertical vibrations while the hard

spring gives the worst response. However, at this mass 20 kg the soft spring show

increase in its resonance frequency compare to at 10 kg, the increase is about 0.25

not like the other two springs which show decrease in their natural frequency as it

is theoretical expected.

57
4.2 Transmissibility and Coherency

4.2.1 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and 1.5

m/s2

Figure 4.4: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 5kg with 0.5, 1 and
1.5 m/s2

Based on the above graphs, all the three springs have a peak of maximum

transmissibility at their resonance frequency; however, the soft spring and the

moderate spring show one more peak of the maximum transmissibility at the very

start of graph 1 m/s2 and 1.5 m/s2 respectively. And this due to some error while

doing the experiment that will be discussed later in this section. Resonance

frequencies of the soft spring, moderate and the hard springs are 5.75, 6 and 7.25

Hz respectively. At the resonance frequency, the soft spring gives the lowest

58
transmissibility values of 4.9, 7.9 and 14.3. The moderate spring show the highest

values of 20.3 and 20.3 at 0.5 and 1 m/s2. And the hard spring show the highest

transmissibility value of 17.9 at 1.5 m/s2.

4.2.2 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 10kg with 0.5, 1 and

1.5 m/s2

Figure 4.5: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 10kg with 0.5, 1
and 1.5 m/s2

Unlike 5 kg situation, at 10 kg mass all the three springs have only peak of

maximum transmissibility at their resonance frequency. Resonance frequencies of

the soft spring, the moderate spring and the hard spring are 4, 4.75 and 5.5 Hz

respectively. At the resonance frequency, the soft spring gives the lowest

59
transmissibility values of 5.4, 8.4 and 13. The hard spring show the highest

transmissibility values of 23.7, 45.3 and 37.2. Thus, the soft spring gives the best

reactions to the vertical vibration and the hard spring gives the worst reactions.

4.2.3 Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 20kg with 0.5, 1 and

1.5 m/s2

Figure 4.6: Testing of transmissibility, phase and coherency at 20kg with 0.5, 1
and 1.5 m/s2

From figure 4.6, all the three springs have a peak of maximum transmissibility at

their resonance frequency; however, the soft spring and the moderate spring show

more peak of the maximum transmissibility at other frequency. At 0.5 m/s2 and 1

m/s2 the moderate spring show a peak at the very start. At 1.5 m/s2 the soft spring

shows a peak at the very start. Resonance frequencies of the soft spring, the

60
moderate and the hard springs are 4.25, 3.25 and 4 Hz respectively. At the resonance

frequency, the soft spring gives the lowest transmissibility values of 2 and 3.6 at 0.5

and 1 m/s2. The soft spring and the moderate spring show the same lowest value of

5.4 m/s2 at 1.5 m/s2. While the hard spring show the highest transmissibility values

of 8.6, 16.5 and 15.2. Hence, the soft spring is the best vertical vibrations reduction

at the resonance frequency and the hard spring is the worst.

Comparing the test at three different masses (5, 10 and 20 kg) and at the resonance

frequency, the soft spring responded very well through all the transmissibility and

power spectra density graphs while the hard spring responded very bad in most of

them. The soft spring has the highest deflection of about 23.5 mm and lowest

equivalent stiffness of about 10 KN/m and the hard spring has the lowest deflection

of about 15 mm and the highest equivalent stiffness between the three springs of

about 15 kN/m. From this, the best response to the vertical vibrations is when the

stiffness was low and the deflection was high because the spring with low stiffness

and; thus, low natural frequency can attenuate all the other higher frequencies.

However; results of transmissibility at 5kg showed that the moderate spring

achieved higher transmissibility then the hard spring at 0.5 and 1 m/s2. Stiffness and

deflection have some limitations as; the stiffness cannot be very low so that a failure

of the material will happen or the deflection cannot be very high given the small

available vertical displacement for the suspension seat in the tractors.

61
Manipulating the masses gave a different result and it effected the transmissibility

and power spectral density values. When the mass increased from 5 to 20 kg, the

natural frequency of the suspension seat decreased and so it gave a good response

to the vertical vibrations. However; when increased the mass from 10 kg to 20 kg,

the soft spring show inconsistence results and the natural frequency increased as its

resonance frequency went from 4 to 4.25 Hz Also, increasing the mass resulted in

increasing the deflection of the springs as well. The highest reduction of the vertical

vibrations at the resonance frequency occurred at the highest mass 20 kg while the

lowest reduction occurred at the lowest mass 5 kg.

Moving to the accelerations, manipulating the acceleration from 0.5 to 1.5 m/s2

showed different values for power spectral density (PSD) and transmissibility.

Increasing the accelerations to reach the highest acceleration of 1.5 m/s2 resulted in

increasing the power spectral density (PSD) and the transmissibility, thus it gave a

worse response to the vertical vibrations at the resonance frequency compare to the

results at the lowest acceleration of 0.5 m/s2. However; when increased the

acceleration at 10kg from 1 to 1.5 m/s2, the hard spring showed a reduction in the

transmissibility. Unlike manipulating the masses and stiffness, increasing or

decreasing the acceleration did not affect the natural frequency of the suspension

seat and the natural frequencies were approximately constant and this can be seen

from the resonance frequencies of the springs.

62
Coherency graphs show overall good results because they are close to 1 in most of

the graphs. This indicates that the correlation between the two signals at the base

and the upper plate of the suspension seat and thus, it supports the accuracy of the

findings.

There were some limitations and error during proceeding the lab test which are mass

stop screw has high buckling, the mass stop screw was not secured enough on the

upper plate and the masses are not one body.

First reason was testing a 20 kg, the mass stop screw has high deflection as it is not

that stiff to hold 20 kg mass without buckling too much. This gave an extra external

vibration source and it could affect the results.

Secondly, the mass stop screw was not firmly hold enough on the upper plate

because there was no proper nut available at the lab when doing the test. And this

could be the main reasons of seeing a peak not at the resonance frequency in the

transmissibility graphs.

Lastly, it was the limitation of finding a one body of mass. The masses that were

using in the test have different shapes and sizes. Hence, it could contribute some

vibrations.

Figure 4.7: Buckling of the mass stop screw when holding 20 kg mass

63
 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the objectives have been done as discussed in chapter 4. The

suspension seat for agriculture tractor was designed and developed by referring to

the marketing designs, International Standards and research thesis to find the best

design for the project situation and make it be suitable for the GT300M shaker. The

test was done in the vibration laboratory by using three type of spring stiffness,

three types of masses and three input vibration magnitudes and they were

manipulated to result in total of 27 tests. The three types of stiffness were compared

with each other using the vibration magnitudes, power spectral density (PSD)

transmissibility to decide which one is the best stiffness in attenuating the vertical

vibrations and that was the soft spring.

The soft spring which has the lowest stiffness and highest stroke was the best spring

for the project situation as it has the lowest vibration transmissibility to the upper

plate. The hard spring with the highest stiffness and lowest stroke gave the worst

response to the vertical vibrations. This is due to that the soft spring has highest

stroke and it compresses more than the stiffer springs thus, the soft spring store

more energy when it compresses and that leads to reduce more vertical vibrations.

In addition, the soft spring has natural frequency smaller than the natural frequency

64
of the stiffer springs and this enables the soft spring to attenuate more excited

frequency and response better to the vertical vibrations.

There are some recommendations for further research and improvements on this

project:

1. A stiffer mass stop screw should be used which prevents the masses on the

suspension seat from moving. A good stiffer mass stop screw has to be able

to prevent the masses from throwing away during the vibrating of the shaker

without buckling. Because buckling from the mass stop screw can be a

source of vibration and contribute in the vibration. Thus, the results will be

affected.

2. A nut driver should be used to tight the mass stop screw on the suspension

seat properly and hence; no additional vibration source will be there. As the

untighten nut could vibrate while the shaker is vibrating and this will affect

the transmissibility graphs.

3. Masses of the same shape should be used on the suspension seat to prevent

the movement and noise between the masses when they have a different

shape.

4. If a dumper used, it can give better results of the transmissibility and

increases the ability of the suspension seat in attenuating the vertical

vibrations.

5. Springs of same group should have the same exact stiffness to avoid any

further errors.

65
REFERENCES

1. Klooster, S. J. (2004). Vibration Suppression and Safety Seat Motion

Design of a Hyper-Active Seat Vibration Suppression and Safety Seat

Motion Design of a Hyper-Active Seat. Georgia Institute of Technology.

2. World weather and climate information.(2016). Retrieved from

https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-min-max-Temperature,seri-

kembangan-selangor-my,Malaysia

3. KLARA SEATS.(2017). Retrieved from

https://www.klaraseats.com/CS-85H-90AR-Fahrersitz-Stoff-Schwarz

4. Adly Shah bin Seman (2016) Design and Development of a Suspension

System for the Formula SAE car. Universiti Putra Malaysia.

5. Andrew Mac Guinness (2014) Design, Modelling and testing of a Forklift

seat suspension system. University of Limerick.

6. J. S. Lamancusa Penn State (200). Vibration Isolation.

7. LDS. DACTRON (2003). Basic Of Structural Vibration Testing And

Analysis.

8. Marcotte, Pierre Beaugrand, Sylvie Boutin, Jrme Larue, Christian (2010).

Design and Evaluation of a Suspension Seat to Reduce Vibration Exposure

of Subway Operators: A Case Study, Vol 48, 715-724p.

9. K.C.B. Raju, Dy.G.M.BHEL, K. Narayana Rao (2008). Development and

Optimization of Vibration Protection Seats (Tempered Springs) for

Agricultural Tractor, Issue 1, 2-7p.

10. Singh, Ghuman Kuljit (2014). Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Vehicle

Operators: A Review, Vol 3, Issue 7, 320-323p.

66
11. Christine Vehar Jutte Sridhar Kota (2007). Generalized Synthesis

Methodology of Nonlinear Springs for Prescribed Load-Displacement

Functions.

12. Wan, Yi Schimmels, Joseph M. (2003). Improved Vibration Isolating Seat

Suspension Designs Based on Position-Dependent Nonlinear Stiffness and

Damping Characteristics, Vol 125, Issue 3, 330-338p.

13. Duke, M. Goss, G. (2007). Investigation of Tractor Driver Seat Performance

with Non-linear Stiffness and On-off Damper, Vol 96, Issue 4, 477-486p.

14. A. G. Mayton, J. P. DuCarme, C. C. Jobes, T. J. Matty (1990). Laboratory

investigation of seat suspension performance during vibration testing, Issue

1, 1-7p.

15. Pierre. Lemerle, Philippe. Boulanger (2006). Lower limb contribution to the

dynamic response of the seated man, Vol 294, Issue 4, 1004-1015p.

16. Barry (n.d.). Isolators Selection guide, 51-66p.

17. S. S. Rao (2011). Nonlinear Vibration 5th Ed. Pearson Education, 1-76p.

18. S. S. Rao (2011). Random Vibration 5th Ed. Pearson Education, 1-61p.

19. International Organization for Standardization (2007). ISO 10326

Mechanical vibration -- Laboratory method for evaluating vehicle seat

vibration -- Part 1: Basic requirements.

20. International Organization for Standardization (1995). ISO 11112 Earth-

moving machinery -- Operator's seat -- Dimensions and requirements.

21. International Organization for Standardization (2000). ISO 7096 Earth-

moving machinery -- Laboratory evaluation of operator seat vibration.

67
22. International Organization for Standardization (1997). ISO 2631-1

Mechanical vibration and shock Evaluation of human exposure to whole-

body vibration Part 1: General requirements.

68
APPENDIXES

69
Appendix A: Calculation of the three types of spring using Inventor software

70
A1: The soft spring

Figure A.1: Stiffness, stroke and other parameters for the soft spring by Inventor
software

Figure A.2: Dimensions for the soft spring by Inventor software

71
A2: The moderate spring

Figure A.3: Stiffness, stroke and other parameters for the moderate spring by
Inventor software

Figure A.4: Dimensions for the moderate spring by Inventor software

72
A3: The hard spring

Figure A.5: Stiffness, stroke and other parameters for the hard spring by Inventor
software

Figure A.6: Dimensions for the hard spring by Inventor software

73
Appendix B: Weight of suspension seat and testing masses

74
Figure B.1: Weight of suspension seat

Figure B.2: Testing masses

75
Appendix C: Vibration testing with different masses

76
Figure C.1: Testing with 5 kg

Figure C.2: Testing with 10 kg

77
Figure C.3: Testing with 20 kg

78
Appendix D: Full detailed drawing of the suspension seat parts

79
 6 5 4 3 2 1

D D

5 mm
150 mm

18 mm
C C

10 mm - 5 mm DEEP X4
18 mm

150 mm
B B

Date Date
A Designed by Checked by Approved by
A
admin 4/5/2017

Edition Sheet
1.0 upper base 1/1
6 5 4 3 2 1
 6 5 4 3 2 1

D D

C C

18 mm

18 mm

B B

Date Date
A Designed by Checked by Approved by
A
admin 4/5/2017

Edition Sheet
2.0 welede lower base and tube 1/1
6 5 4 3 2 1
 6 5 4 3 2 1

D D

5 mm
150 mm

C C

150 mm
B B

Date Date
A Designed by Checked by Approved by
A
admin 4/5/2017

Edition Sheet
2.1 lower base 1/1
6 5 4 3 2 1
 6 5 4 3 2 1

D D

105 mm
C C

B 4 mm - 105 mm DEEP B

8 mm
Date Date
A Designed by Checked by Approved by
A
admin 4/5/2017

Edition Sheet
2.2 tube 1/1
6 5 4 3 2 1