A Lumped Parameter Vibration Model Developed Based on a Realistic Kinematic Description of the Hand-Arm System
Prolonged exposure of hand to vibration causes vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal abnormalities, which are collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). A significant number of construction workers, miners and even dentists are affected by HAVS. The precise mechanism or pathogenesis of the syndrome is still not clearly understood. Accurate analysis of hand-arm vibration response is very difficult due to the complexity of the hand-arm structure such as redundancy of the musculo-tendon unit, active participation from central nervous system, inherent non-linearity and heavy damping effect. Various types of lumped parameter models have been developed, typically by matching response characteristics of the model with the measurement. Not being based on the actual physics of the hand-arm, such a model has limited applications such as qualitative, relative analysis of the hand-arm response. A new lumped parameter model is developed in this work retaining as much actual kinematic characteristics of the hand and arm system as possible. The model includes descriptions of relevant musculo-tendon systems and the effect of the gripping force to enable calculation of the forces transmitted through the musculo-tendon system and joints.