Research article

Ergonomic design of Nigerian motorcycle and its vibrational analysis

¹Akanbi GO and ^*2Imaekhai Lawrence

¹Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

²Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: oboscos@gmail.com, engrakanbi@yahoo.com

Accepted 28 June 2014

Abstract

The process of designing single-track, engine-powered, two-wheeled motor vehicles for various task performances due to the absence of Nigerians rider’s anthropometric data has been a challenge. Prolonged exposure to sitting posture in motor cycle gives rise to musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back and other related pains around the body. The characteristics angles of 9 body zones were determined and a prototype designed for control experiment. Our experimental design to determine vibration called for four riders to be recruited. All four of them were males with a mean weight of 712N (Standard Deviation: 94.7N). Two different roads were used for experiments: the fast and the slow road, while old and newer motor cycles were also utilized. The survey showed that 79% of the motorcycle riders have lower back pain; the anthropometric data showed that the existing motorcycles and the riders characteristics angles do not match which necessitated the generation of anthropometric data for Nigeria riders and their motorcycles redesign. The motorcycle condition severely affects the exposure action time and exposure limit time for WBV. The most unfavourable combination of factors is: old motorcycle, small engine, and slow road where EAV=1.1 hours and ELV = 6.0 hours. The most favourable combination of factors is: new motorcycle, big engine, and fast road where EAV =3.1 hours and ELV=16.5 hours. EAV is higher for newer motorcycles, fast roads and large engine size. The vibration measurements were performed with reference to ISO – 2631 and an Artificial Newer Network (ANN) was derived to estimate vibration exposure time.

Keywords: Anthropometric Data, Low Back Pain (LBP), Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD), Exposure Action time Value (EAV), Exposure Action Limit Value (ELV)