Ergonomics applications for human models

Day-to day activity, working activity…

Ergonomics deals with the conditions under which people can perform specified physical tasks.
Ergonomic design and comfort of handling objects are often linked to the activity of the human body, expressed in muscle action, depending on the arrangement and interaction of man and machine. Ergonomic and comfort design aim to minimize the spent energy to perform an action and the effects of the inevitable aggression of various nature originating from an action (driving, etc.).

Images courtesy of PSA.

In both cases, fatigue of the muscles plays a major role when mechanical factors are involved. Psychological fatigue, however, may also play an important role in the actions of daily life and work. Positional fatigue of the musculo-skeletal apparatus may exist when the skeleton is forced to rest in an uncomfortable position, which stretches muscles, tendons and ligaments during a period of time. Today, only those aspects of ergonomics and comfort are addressed and can be linked to mechanically induced muscle fatigue or to body reaction.

Based on the muscle model developed in its explicit solver, ESI has developed a methodology to calculate the muscle balance to maintain a posture under given static loading. This methodology can be adapted to motion with consideration of inertia effects.

Examples: Evaluation of muscular activation under sustained loads – upper limb muscle efforts
- Bicycle fixation on car
- Maintaining of weight
- Sport configurations