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[With maintaining equilibrium: experimental study of the limits of acceleration which the human body can endure
1TNO Technische Menskunde, programmagroep Evenwicht en Oriëntatie, Soesterberg.
Objective:
To explore the limits of acceleration to which a human organism can be exposed without loss of postural balance.
Design:
Experimental study.
Setting:
TNO Human Factors Research Institute, Soesterberg, and the public transport, Amsterdam.
Method:
Volunteers underwent accelerations of the underground in the laboratory. The acceleration that could be tolerated without extra support, was under investigation. In this way, conditions could be determined that cause loss of postural balance.
Results:
A comparison of data obtained in the laboratory with measurements during public transportation proved that in tram, bus and tube, the 'jerk' and the level of acceleration are both in principle unmanageable without extra support.
Conclusion:
A built-in limitation of the jerk component in vehicles of the public transport could offer a substantial contribution to solving the problem of loss of postural balance by the passengers.