Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : November 29, 2023 - December 01, 2023
In this study, an analytical investigation was conducted for the purpose of assessing whether commercially available wheelchairs have the potential to comply the requirements of aviation safety regulations in terms of structural strength under dynamic loading conditions. A manual rigid wheelchair for automobile use was used as a test article, and wheelchair securement system by means of holding an anchor bar was applied. Dynamic analyses of the wheelchair model using Radioss of the explicit solver were conducted on conditions of dynamic loading based on the aircraft airworthiness regulations. As a result of the analyses, the wheelchair frame and the anchor bar withstood the dynamic loading while the wheelchair caster broke down. The reason is considered improper material properties of the caster, and consequently a component structural test of the actual caster was conducted. The caster withstood the test and that means the caster is presumed to withstand the dynamic loading. Finally, it was determined that the structure of the wheelchair could comply the dynamic load requirements.
