Whole-Body Vibration Assessment of the Palletized Load System

摘要

An evaluation of all new tactical vehicles and aircraft is required to assesspotential whole-body vibration (WBV) health hazards to crewmembers. As requested by the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, a health hazard assessment (HHA) was performed by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) on the Palletized Load System (PLS) truck. The PLS was tested on five cross-country courses at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, by the U.S. Army Combat System Test Activity in coordination with the Response and Tolerance Branch of USAARL. The PLS was tested with speeds ranging from 3 to 20 mph. The results of these tests show that, for the worst-case scenario for each course, the lowest tolerances for WBV were on course 5. Less severe WBV occurred on courses 1 and 3, which had near equal tolerances, followed by course 4. Finally, the highest tolerances for WBV exposure were on course 2. The results also show that both driver and passenger were exposed to a Hazard Severity-Category III (marginal), with a Hazard Probability-Level C (occasional).