Experimental research on visual acuity decrements associated with whole body vibration sitting on an automobile seat

Abstract

This research presents an experimental investigation on the vision performance of a human body which is sitting on an automobile seat. Six subjects were selected from a panel for the experimental research and frequency exposes from 1 to 30Hz sine wave vibration to the subjects by the sweep for 240 seconds with the total amplitude of 2 millimeters. The subjects were measured a standard visual acuity test and a self-rated assessment for difficulties in visual perception every 2 Hz and two subjects of them were measured vertical acceleration for their head in the experimental investigation. From the experimental result, visual efficiency was declined to 49.55 % in the vicinity of the frequency range of 20 Hz. The cause of reduction of eyesight has been considered using the model eye of Gullstrand, and it has been found that the deformation of optic-axis length was 0.257 millimeters when the average eyesight of all subjects was reduced from 1.15 to 0.57. Some results are presented in the form of parametric graphs. The results are useful for improving vehicle ride comfort, maneuverability and safety driving.