Vibration Dose Value in Passenger Car and Road Roughness

Abstract

This study analyzed measured vibration dose value (VDV) in passenger cars as a function of longitudinal road roughness. The VDV was estimated on the passenger seat based on acceleration measured in three orthogonal axes on two measuring points—seat surface and feet. Measurements were provided on nine different cars of six categories and included a total travel distance of 1,860 km. The relation between VDV, International Roughness Index (IRI), and vehicle speed was estimated. Measured passenger VDV was fitted by a three-parameter function. Other parameters included vehicle type and road category (motorway, first-class road, second-class road). A low contribution (∼3%) of foot vibration to the total VDV was observed. Results were compared with VDV exposure action and limit values. The exposure action value VDV=9.1 m/s1.75 was almost always exceeded for vehicles traveling on road sections with an IRI>4.91 mm/m. New speed-related IRI thresholds are proposed based on VDV.