Musculoskeletal Load Assessment of the Upper Limb Positions Subjectively Chosen as the Most Convenient

Work posture is determined by interdependence between work stand design, the necessity to perform given activities, and the anthropometric dimensions of the worker, but it also depends on individual preferences. The aim of the study was to compare the musculoskeletal load of the right upper extremity under conditions of imposed (standard) upper limb position and subjectively chosen ones, and to assess the influence of the changes in magnitude of the external force on the musculoskeletal load in the examined limb positions. Ten healthy male participants took part in the study. Muscular load associated with different upper extremity positions with and without external load were assessed. Musculoskeletal load for standard and subjectively chosen limb positions and two different values of external load were compared by means of theoretical and experimental methods. Results indicate that differences in musculoskeletal load between imposed and subjectively chosen limb positions were not high enough to show statistically significant differences, and the upper limb position chosen by the participant does not always cause the lowest musculoskeletal load.     

公共建筑人群疏散流线负荷的拓扑解析模型研究*

为寻找公共建筑人群疏散极端负荷流线，构建疏散流线负荷的拓扑解析模型。首先，通过分析建筑空间布局的构成要素，引入移动空间、障碍空间、移动节点等概念，构建公共建筑疏散空间的拓扑网络；其次，定义节点最迟疏散结束时刻、节点最早疏散开始时刻等时间参数，以某时刻作为初始状态，计算疏散网络节点时差，构建极端负荷流线的拓扑解析模型，探析公共建筑人群疏散流线拥堵特征；最后，采用Agent技术对某会展中心人群疏散流线负荷模型进行仿真分析。研究结果表明:流线的拓扑网络节点总时差反映了流线负荷分布特征，人群疏散的极端负荷流线符合拓扑解析模型结果，能为公共建筑人群疏散方案的制定提供理论依据。     

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 2--an experimental study.

The aim of the study was to compare the theoretical indicator of upper limb load with the physiological indicator of musculoskeletal load, which is present while performing a repetitive task (a normalized electromyography [EMG] amplitude recorded from the muscles of the upper limb involved in the performed task). In an experimental study of a repetitive task, the EMG signal from 5 main muscles of the shoulder girdle, arm and forearm was registered: extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, deltoideus anterior, biceps brachii caput breve and trapezius descendent. The results of the study showed a strong correlation between the theoretical indicator (Integrated Cycle Load) and the physiological indicator (root mean square of a normalized EMG amplitude from the 5 muscles). This proves that the developed theoretical indicator can be accepted as an indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load during a work task.     

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 1--a model of upper limb load.

The aim of the study was to develop a theoretical indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load based on repetitive task parameters. As such the dimensionless parameter, Integrated Cycle Load (ICL) was accepted. It expresses upper limb load which occurs during 1 cycle. The indicator is based on a model of a repetitive task, which consists of a model of the upper limb, a model of basic types of upper limb forces and a model of parameters of a repetitive task such as length of the cycle, length of periods of the cycle and external force exerted during each of the periods of the cycle. Calculations of the ICL parameter were performed for 12 different variants of external load characterised by different values of repetitive task parameters. A comparison of ICL, which expresses external load with a physiological indicator of upper limb load, is presented in Part 2 of the paper.     

火灾后配筋圆钢管混凝土柱剩余承载力数值分析

研究配筋圆钢管混凝土轴压短柱火灾后剩余承载力。利用ABAQUS有限元分析软件建立了ISO-834标准升温曲线升温作用下配筋圆钢管混凝土短柱温度场模型,基于温度场分析结果建立了配筋圆钢管混凝土轴压短柱力学分析模型,利用以往试验结果对模型进行了验证,计算结果与实验结果吻合良好。在此基础上进行了火灾后配筋圆钢管混凝土轴压短柱剩余承载力参数分析,选用的参数包括：升温时间、混凝土强度、钢管强度、钢筋强度、含钢率、配筋率、构件截面尺寸等。研究结果表明：在本次参数范围内,在其它条件相同的情况下,与常温下的承载力相比,受火时间越长,截面尺寸越小,构件火灾后剩余承载力的损失越高。结果可供有关钢管混凝土工程火灾后修复加固参考。     

Cardiovascular Load During Summer Work of Two Age Groups of Van-Rickshaw Pullers in West Bengal,India

Van-rickshaw is a popular mode of transport of people and merchandise in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of age on cardiovascular load of van-rickshaw pullers in the summer season (March-June) in real situations. In 142 participants, divided into 2 age groups (25-40 and 41-55 years), cardiovascular load was assessed on the basis of working and partial recovery heart rate (HR), predicted maximal HR, working maximal HR, average working HR, percentage of reserved HR, sum of recovery heart beats, percentage of recovery, relative and net cardiac cost, etc. Except for percentage of recovery, all parameters differed significantly between the groups and were significantly correlated with age. As this activity is very stressful, it places a heavy demand on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, age is an important factor for sustainability of the work, especially in a hot environment. Some ergonomic interventions are necessary to reduce cardiovascular load.     

Characteristics of Muscular Load in Computer Data Entry Workers Assessed by EMG and Postural Angles

The goal of this study was to characterize the muscular load in computer data entry workers. Electromyography (EMG) parameters of trapezius muscle and postural angles of head, arm, and back were chosen as indicators of musculoskeletal load. The examination was done according to the methods and protocol of international MEPS studies (the “Musculoskeletal, Visual, and Psychosocial Load in VDT [Video Display Terminal] Operators in Optimized Environment” international program). The musculoskeletal load during routine VDT data entry work performed by a group of 36 women was assessed on the basis of 1-hr physiometer recordings. Results show that the musculoskeletal load associated with data entry is relatively high compared to other VDT operators’ tasks described in the literature. An analysis of the measured parameters shows that most of the time women worked with a muscular load higher than optimal. It is postulated that the main reason for the heavy musculoskeletal load was improper posture compelled by unergonomic spatial configuration of work stands.     

Force-Velocity Characteristics of Individual Human Skeletal Muscles: TBCIat and TBCIong. Outline of the Method

The aim of the work is to outline a procedure of finding force-velocity (F–V) characteristics (F = f(V)) of individual skeletal muscles of the human locomotor system. The presentation is based on an example concerning extensors of the elbow joint: the lateral and long heads of triceps brachii (TBCIat and TBCIong). The experimental part of the procedure involves a natural movement of using the upper extremity to push an external object of variable, adjustable load, engaging both the elbow and shoulder joint.

Five men aged 23 took part in the experiment. Their task was to push the handle of a physical pendulum whose moment of inertia could be adjusted within the range of 58 kg m²-450 kg m², so as to give it maximum angular velocity. During each trial the movement of the trunk, of the upper extremity and of the pendulum was video recorded and the force applied with the hand to the handle of the pendulum was measured.

In order to find the F–V characteristics a simulation model SHOULDER was used, which is capable of solving the synergy problem for muscles of the arm and the shoulder girdle.

It was found that despite considerable dispersion of experimental points the respective regression lines revealed a clear tendency of decreasing muscle force for increased shortening velocity of the monoarticular head (TBCIat) and of increasing muscle force for increased lengthening velocity of the biarticular head (TBCIong) of the triceps brachii muscle.     

Physiological Method of Evaluating Protective Clothing for Work in a Cold Environment

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of physiological studies in the evaluation of protective clothing for work in a cold environment. The study included the examination of the dynamics of changes in chosen physiological parameters (core and skin temperatures, heart rate, pulmonary minute ventilation) as well as physical ones (the temperature and relative humidity under the clothes) during work in protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation. The experiment was conducted in extreme environmental conditions (–10 and –15°C) at a work load defined by the clothing manufacturer as moderate. Results show that thermal equilibrium was achieved and maintained throughout the investigated work time (60 min) and that the protective clothing ensures safety on the time scale of a regular 8-hour work day. It was also shown that the dynamics of thermal stress physiological parameters can be used to determine the maximum duration of exposure for cold protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation.     

Assessment of Physical Load at Work Sites: A Finnish–German Concept

The aim of this article is to introduce a set of work physiology methods for the assessment of physical load at the work site and to consider (a) their relevance for different types of muscular work, and (b) their feasibility for occupational health and safety practitioners. The results of an ergonomic intervention study for the reduction of workload associated with various manual materials handling tasks were used for the evaluation of the feasibility and sensitivity of the measurements of heart rate, the Edholm and OWAS methods, and the ratings of overall and local perceived exertion. The methods proved feasible, although time consuming, and their sensitivity for the quantification of small changes in physical workload was limited. Despite these shortcomings, these methods can be used by occupational health and safety practitioners when their strategy and data collection techniques are developed further. In conclusion, there are relevant and feasible methods fora reliable work-site assessment of cardiorespiratory and postural load related to the activation of large muscle masses. On the other hand, field methods for the quantification of local static workload and repetitive type of workload with small muscle masses are scarce.     

北京市安全生产与经济社会发展耦合关系研究

调查和研究北京市安全生产历史资料数据,系统地分析生产安全的发展历史、现状、特征与存在的问题;选取3大类18个与安全生产关系密切的经济社会相对指标,通过散点图、相关系数、主因子分析等方法建立了亿元产值死亡率与经济社会相对指标的回归模型;结合目前北京市的安全生产现状,使用差分自回归滑动平均法及趋势分析法,计算未来各类事故死亡人数、亿元产值死亡率的变化趋势,并预测全市安全生产的发展趋势;提出经济社会和安全监管方面的相关对策建议,为有关部门制定政策规划提供理论依据。     

细尾矿砂非饱和渗流稳态含水率二维解析解

为准确描述非饱和细尾矿砂内部含水率的空间分布规律,采用解析方法求解了非饱和尾矿砂的二维Richards方程,探讨了解析求解过程中方程和求解区域简化的思路,介绍了非饱和细尾矿砂含水率空间分布的实验结果,采用混沌粒子群优化算法计算了求解过程中引入的常数。研究结果表明:解析解具有无穷级数的形式,且级数的系数具有很好的收敛性,非饱和细尾矿砂含水率在水平和竖直方向上的分布均近似服从指数函数,混沌粒子群优化算法的误差收敛性明显,利用解析模型得到的各点含水率计算值与实验测量值均符合的比较好。所得解析公式能够很好地描述非饱和细尾矿砂内部含水率的空间分布规律。     

颗粒煤的多扩散系数瓦斯解吸模型及扩散参数反演研究

为研究颗粒煤瓦斯解吸规律,基于Fick定律建立了颗粒煤的多扩散系数瓦斯解吸 模型,完成了颗粒煤瓦斯解吸模型的数值试验。引入了非负约束最小二乘法反演算法（ NNLS）,通过试验数据反演得出颗粒煤的扩散参数的B谱,从而确定出颗粒煤瓦斯扩散 系数D的准确范围。研究结果表明:颗粒煤瓦斯解吸符合Fick扩散定律,颗粒煤的多扩 散系数瓦斯解吸模型能很好地解决单一扩散系数模型的扩散系数随时间衰减的问题,准 确反映了颗粒煤瓦斯解吸规律,单一扩散系数瓦斯解吸模型只是多扩散系数瓦斯解吸模 型的一个特例;NNLS是一种有效的反演算法,利用NNLS方法可以准确反演出颗粒煤瓦斯 解吸过程中的扩散参数的B谱,通过B谱可方便计算出颗粒煤的瓦斯扩散系数。     

Investigation on the effect of impact location height on pedestrian safety using a legform impactor dynamic model

Because of rapid increase in the urban population and hence road traffic, the vehicle–pedestrian crashes are more frequent and have become a major concern in road traffic safety. Though the bumper of a vehicle plays an important role to protect the vehicle body damage in low speed impacts, many bumpers particularly in larger vehicles are too stiff for pedestrian protection and safety. To prevent lower extremity injuries in car–pedestrian collisions, it is important to determine the loadings that car front structures impart on the lower extremities and the mechanisms by which injuries are caused. In the present work, a dynamic legform impactor model is introduced and validated against EEVC/WG17 criteria. The collision mechanism between a GMT bumper and the legform impactor model is investigated numerically using LS-DYNA software. The effect of the height of the impact point of bumper assembly to lower extremity injuries is also investigated. In this paper, it is shown that changing the local stiffness of bumper assembly due to the change in the height of the bumper and distribution of stiffness from upper parts of the bumper assembly to lower parts are the most important parameters in the pedestrian’s leg injuries. As lower extremity injuries are related to the lower bumper height, developing special legform impactors for different countries with different average person height seems essential in investigating the effect of people’s height on lower extremity injuries.     

防风网气动特性参数的试验研究

防风网气动特性参数是防风网结构设计中的重要参数.通过风洞试验的方法研究了透风率分别为29.9%和35.4%的蝶形、平板两类防风网的静力风荷载气动特性参数.结果表明,防风网风载体型系数背风面为负值,其绝对值远大于迎风面;迎风面风载体型系数,当透风率较小时为负值,较大时为正值,即防风网向后的吸力是主要作用力. 防风网的压力损失系数、风载体型系数和阻力系数相互紧密联系,其值具有一致性,随着前者的提高,后两者的值也提高,即防风抑尘效果越好,抗风安全性越差.防风网结构设计时,要统筹兼顾,权衡利弊,选其最佳结合点.     

Multibody model of the human upper extremity for fracture simulation

About 3.8 million people are injured in accidents at work in Europe every year. The resulting high costs are incurred by the victims themselves, their families, employers and society. We have used a numerical simulation to reconstruct accidents at work for several years. To reconstruct these accidents MADYMO R7.5 with a numerical human model (pedestrian model) is used. However, this model is dedicated to the analysis of car-to-pedestrian accidents and thus cannot be fully used for reconstructing accidents at work. Therefore, we started working on the development of a numerical model of the human body for the purpose of simulating accidents at work. Developing a new numerical model which gives an opportunity to simulate fractures of the upper extremity bones is a stage of that work.     

汽车后排座椅侧气囊仿真系统参数优化研究

为提升侧面碰撞中后排乘员胸腹部保护效果,在国内某款汽车原有侧面碰撞系统模型基础上,构建后排座椅侧气囊(RSAB)仿真试验模型,通过各项零部件试验与气囊模型对标后导入侧面碰撞系统试验模型;分析RSAB及气帘对后排被试的保护性能,针对胸腹部损伤防护优化侧面气囊相关参数,设计正交试验,运用极差分析法,得出最优参数组合,并对比优化前后结果与实车试验数据,验证优化方案的有效性与可行性。研究结果表明:通过选取关键参数,结合正交试验设计和极差分析法,对胸部气囊的泄气孔直径、位置以及点火时刻进行参数匹配优化,得到座椅侧气囊防护最优参数组合为泄气孔位置在上方、点火时刻为5 ms、泄气孔直径为25 mm,胸腹部压缩量可分别降低21.29%和18.93%。     

Small Female Upper Extremity Interaction with a Deploying Side Air Bag

This paper presents a study characterizing the interaction between a deploying side air bag and a small female upper extremity. The results are based on twelve tests with small female cadavers, and fifteen tests with the instrumented SAE 5th percentile female upper extremity attached to the 5th percentile Hybrid III female dummy. The upper extremity was loaded by a deploying seat mounted thoracic side air bag in a static test environment. Three inflators were used that varied in peak pressure and pressure onset rate. Despite kinematic differences between the dummy and cadaver, the moments recorded in the cadaver and dummy were similar. Chondral and osteochondral fractures in the cadaver elbow joints were identified in seven of the twelve cadaver tests, while a simple fracture of the distal humerus head was observed in one test. A linear logistic regression analysis was performed to correlate occurrence of recorded injury and the test parameters. Injury risk functions were constructed using age, forearm acceleration, elbow moment, and air bag inflator level as variables.     

基于绝热火焰温度多元混合气体可燃性极限的理论预测

为了预测多元混合气体可燃性极限,通过化学平衡计算软件分析确定了气体在可燃性下限（LFL）和可燃性上限（UFL）的燃烧产物及计算绝热火焰温度（CAFT）,基于能量平衡方程和简化反应模型,分别建立了混合气体LFL和UFL预测模型。应用该预测模型对CH4、C2H4、C3H8、C3H6和CO组成的不同比例混合气体可燃性极限进行预测。结果表明:简化反应模型对于LFL和UFL预测值与文献中实验值的平均相对误差分别为2.76%和5.45%,相关系数分别为0.995和0.950;同时发现两步简化模型对含有C2H4和CO混合组分预测结果误差较大,但对于平均碳原子数大于2的混合气体,预测结果一致性较好。