Title: Design and numerical investigation for reduction of hand-arm vibrations from steering wheel of an agricultural tractor

Authors: Sumit S. Naygaonkar; Sandeep R. Desai

Addresses: Department of Automobile Engineering, K.E.S's Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Islampur, Tal. Walwa, Dist. Sangli, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, 415414, India ' Department of Automobile Engineering, K.E.S's Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Islampur, Tal. Walwa, Dist. Sangli, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, 415414, India

Abstract: Steering wheel vibration affects the driver's comfort in an agricultural tractor. In order to increase driver comfort and reduce the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) effect, it is necessary to reduce the vibrations in agricultural tractors. The tuned mass damper concept is used to reduce vibrations from the tractor's steering wheel. The paper is focused on measuring steering wheel vibration characteristics on the actual tractor, designing a vibration control system and carrying out impact assessment using numerical analysis. The amplitude of vibration at the steering wheel measured by physical measurement on an actual tractor is compared to that determined using MATLAB Simulink. The outcomes of the numerical analysis suggest that the amplitude of vibration can be reduced by using a tuned mass damper (TMD) to achieve the proposed target levels. The effect of hand-arm vibration syndrome can also be decreased, resulting in an increased driver comfort.

Keywords: agricultural tractors; hand-arm vibration syndrome; HAVS; hand-transmitted vibration; steering wheel vibration; tuned mass damper; TMD; vibration exposure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2022.125611

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2022 Vol.18 No.1/2, pp.119 - 138

Received: 26 Oct 2021
Accepted: 15 Feb 2022
Published online: 16 Sep 2022 *