Understanding The Effect Of Noise, Vibration And Seat Discomfort Towards A Passenger's Vehicle Driver Through Self-Reported Survey

Daruis, Dian Darina Indah; Deros, Baba Md; Noor, Mohd · 2012 · Jurnal Teknologi

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v49.190

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Summary

This study investigates the effects of noise, vibration, and seat discomfort on Malaysian passenger vehicle drivers using a self-reported survey methodology. The research was motivated by the lack of standardized methodologies for measuring driver perception and the infancy of comfort studies within the Malaysian automotive industry. While previous literature often treated noise and vibration as secondary factors or combined them under "noise, vibration, and harshness" (NVH), this study aimed to examine these three discomfort factors simultaneously. The specific objectives were to determine if noise and vibration effects differed between idle and accelerating conditions, identify the most common areas of bodily discomfort, and assess whether gender significantly influenced overall discomfort levels. The researchers conducted an online questionnaire-based survey targeting Malaysian drivers. The instrument underwent pilot testing to ensure reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha increasing from above 0.8 to above 0.9. The final survey consisted of four sections covering driving experience, noise and vibration perceptions, seat discomfort mapped via a Nordic body diagram, and personal demographics. A total of 40 respondents were analyzed, comprising both professional and non-professional drivers who primarily used Malaysian-made vehicles on highways and smooth urban roads. The survey utilized a 5-point Likert scale to measure discomfort levels for various factors, including floor, steering, and seat vibrations, as well as interior and exterior noise. The results indicated that the majority of respondents reported no discomfort for most factors, with slight discomfort being the most frequent response among those experiencing issues. Gender-based differences were observed in specific sensitivities: women reported higher discomfort regarding vibration-related factors, while men reported higher discomfort regarding noise-related factors. However, no significant difference was found in overall discomfort levels between genders. Regarding driving conditions, there was no significant difference in discomfort levels for noise and vibration between idle and accelerating states. For seat discomfort, the upper back was identified as the most common area of pain or discomfort. The study attributes differences in discomfort responses between men and women primarily to anthropometric factors rather than gender itself. The study concludes that while both genders experience noise, vibration, and seat discomfort, their sensitivity varies by factor and body part. The findings align with existing literature despite the self-reported nature of the data. This research serves as a preliminary effort to establish a scientific framework for automobile seat comfort and driver perception in Malaysia, highlighting the importance of investigating noise, vibration, and seat comfort concurrently rather than in isolation. The results suggest that future automotive design and comfort studies in the region should account for anthropometric variations and specific gender sensitivities to vibration and noise.

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Topics

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• passenger motion sickness comfort
• simulator sickness

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• Empirical Findings: self report data