Doctoral Dissertations

Akul Joshi

Abstract

"Operator performing fastening operation with powered hand-tools at awkward postures is subjected to external forces that may pose a risk of developing ergonomic injuries. For design of safe workplaces and selection of tools it is necessary to identify the probable causes of discomfort by simulating the work conditions and quantifying the risk factors. An ergonomic simulator is developed to simulate the fastening operation and quantify the effects of posture and force in fastening operation. The effect of dynamic forces is analyzed using two approaches. The first approach analyzes the effect of tool vibration while the second analyzes the hand-arm system response to the tool torque by modeling the hand-arm system as a single-degree-of-freedom dynamic system. The hand-arm system model is used to predict the hand-arm displacement and dynamic reaction force. Equivalent static load is calculated to combine the static and dynamic forces in fastening operation. Ergonomic analysis of individual risk factors is conducted and preventive actions are suggested.

Tool vibrations were analyzed using the IS0-5349 Standard and quantified as years taken to 10% probability of finger blanching. Strong agreements were observed between the predicted response from the identified hand-arm system model and the measured response with average correlation coefficients of 0.95. Results of the study indicate that the pistol-grip tool had higher vibration and generated higher reaction force than the right-angled tool for all subjects. The reaction force increased with increase in grip force for both tools at all postures. The RULA score utilizing the equivalent static load effectively analyzes load and posture for comparing workplace risk factors"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Leu, M. C. (Ming-Chuan)
Murray, Susan L.

Committee Member(s)

Eversman, Walter
Landers, Robert G.
Chandrashekhara, K.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Sponsor(s)

  • Missouri University of Science and Technology. Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies
  • Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio)
  • Boeing Company
  • Siemens

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

2011

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Ergonomic analysis of fastening vibration based on ISO standard
  • Fastening ergonomics study based on state-space modeling of hand-arm system
  • Muscular fatigue and force sustenance at different operator postures
  • Ergonomic simulator to study impact of external forces and posture on operator safety in fastening

Pagination

xii, 105 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Rights

© 2011 Akul Shantaram Joshi, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Vibration -- Physiological effect -- Computer simulation
Vibration -- Measurement -- Computer simulation
Human engineering -- Computer simulation
Robotics -- Human factors
State-space methods

Thesis Number

T 10183

Print OCLC #

870999712

Electronic OCLC #

908695840

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