Aircraft seat comfort requirementsbased on scientific literature

prof dr Peter Vink

The passenger experiences comfort

therefore, use as well:

• tests with passengers in various design stages

• human models

• guidelines developed by e.g. Boeing and Airbus

this presentation: some measurable literature based data

prof dr Peter Vink

This presentation

3. back-rest

2. seatpan

1. legroom

1. Legroom: priority nr one

minimal 665 mm = 26.2”(p95 world population, ww.dined.nl)for p95 male Dutch it’s: 705 mm = 27.8”

=the biggest problem according to 10,032 passengers (Vink et al., 2012)

1. Legroom

+ enough shin clearance and footspacesee also Boeing guidelines (Vink & Brauer, 2011)

1. Legroom

166 mm = 6.5”

distance between tray table and top of seat pan(p95 Dutch population 31-60 years, ww.dined.nl)

2. Seatpan

Seat pan front upwards, angle dependent on backrest angle: avoid shear forces (Goossens & Snijders, 1995)

Pressure distribution according to Zenk et al.(2012): Load in % of body mass

2. Seatpan

Width between armrests:

hip width p95 Dutch male:• 1982: 408 mm = 16.1”• 2004: 440 mm = 17.3”• 2026: ?472mm?

Source: www.dined.nl

440mm

100-130o3. Backrest

Recline angle according to some studies:________________________________________________130o Rosmalen et al., 2009 lounge seat experiment117o Park et al., 2000 observing Korean drivers120o Hosea et al., 1986 EMG of back muscles109o Knijnenburg, 2007 truck comfort experiment114o Gscheidle, 2004 prefered office seat

positions100o Harrison, 2000 literature review________________________________________________

3. Backrest: lumbar support

max 30 mm = 1.18” (Carcone & Keir, 2007)

South-African middle of lumbar support 120-280 mm above seat pan avg 192 mm = 7.56” (Korte, 2013)

3. Backrest: headrest

shoulder height sitting Dutch 2004 20-60 years: p95: 664 mm = 26.1”

Foam: p5: 523 mm = 20.6”at neck level (www.dined.nl)stiffnes <1kPa (soft)At head level stiffnes +/- 5.6 kPa(Franz et al., 2012)

More factors influence comfort, like

Preflight/postflight and service

In the seat itself: seat pan lengthform of seat pan free shoulder spacein- and egresssupport for device usefoam/net, texture/coloretc

Conclusion

Tests with passengers inevitible in increasing comfortalso, because many factors influence comfortFirst priority: leg roomHip width will increase

more info: p.vink@tudelft.nl +

References-Carcone SM, Keir PJ. Effects of backrest design on biomechanics and comfort during seated work .Applied Ergonomics 2007;38: 755-764-Franz M, Durt A, Zenk R, Desmet PMA. Comfort effects of a new car headrest with neck support .Applied Ergonomics 2012;43(2):336-343-Goossens RHM, Snijders CJ. Design criteria for the reduction of shear forces in beds and seats. Journal of Biomechanics 1995; 28: 225-230-Gscheidle GM, Reed MP, Sitter-selected postures in an office chair with minimal task constraints. In: proceedings of the HFES 48th annual meeting 2004: 1086-1090, cd-rom 2004-Harrison DD, Harrison SO, Croft AC, Harrison DE, Troyanovich SJ, Sitting Biomechanics, Part II: Optimal Car Driver's Seat and Optimal Driver's Spinal Model. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2000; 23: 37-47, -Hosea TM, Simon SR, Delatizky J, Wong MA, Hsieh CC. Myoelectric analysis of the paraspinal musculature in relation to automobile driving. Spine 1986; 11:928-36-Knijnenburg, R, Future passengers side truck seats for DAF. Confidential, TU-delft, Delft, 2007-Korte J. South African anthropometric dimensions for the design of an ergonomic office chair, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 2013-Park SJ, Kim Ch, Kim CJ, Lee JW. Comfortable driving postures for Koreans. In J of Industrial Ergonomics 2000; 26: 489-497-Rosmalen D van, Groenesteijn L, Boess S, Vink P. Using both qualitative and quantitative types of research to design a comfortable television chair. J. of Design Research 2009; 8: 87–100-Vink P, Bazley C, Kamp I, Blok M. Possibilities to improve the aircraft interior comfort experience. Applied Ergonomics 2012;43:354-359-Vink P, Brauer K, Aircraft interior comfort and design, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2011-Zenk R, Franz M, Bubb H, Vink P. Technical note: Spine loading in automotive seating. Applied Ergonomics 2012;43:290-295

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