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Published:
Dec 13, 2016DOI:
10.4314/just.v36i2.5Keywords:
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THE POTENTIAL OF PHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS USING ELECTROMYOGRAPHY IN THE DESIGN OF MOTORCYCLES
Abstract
Two-wheel vehicle comfort is usually assessed by means of subjective scorings or by measuring physical quantities such as acceleration, sound pressure, etc. which do not depend on the human response. This study has chosen a different approach, which is to use electromyography for evaluating the levels of muscle activity. It focuses more specifically on comfort in relation to aerodynamic loads. The loads were simulated by a wind tunnel. ANOVA statistical analysis was used to establish the impact of aerodynamic loads and of various motorcycle models on muscle activity levels. The results showed that aerodynamic loads generally cause an increase of muscle activity, although their impact varies in relation to the design of the motorcycle: each model of
motorcycle produces a specific distribution of activity levels among muscles. The methodology can be used for vehicle-design purposes as well as organising motorbike training programmes.
Keywords: Motorcycle; Aerodynamic loads; SEM; Ergonomics; Comfort
