International Roughness Index Thresholds Based on Whole-Body Vibration in Passenger Cars

This study analyzed whole-body vibration (WBV) on a car seat (seat surface and feet) in passenger cars as a function of longitudinal road roughness. Measurements were provided on nine different cars in six categories and included a total travel distance of 1,860 km. The root mean square (RMS) of the frequency-weighted acceleration was used to quantify WBV. The relationship between seat acceleration response and comfort reactions according to the ISO 2631-1 and the International Roughness Index (IRI) was estimated. IRI thresholds were proposed as a function of vehicle speed and road category. Proposed IRI thresholds decreased with vehicle velocity and were similar with published IRI threshold proposals based on simulation. IRI thresholds as a function of speed limit should decrease with power by approximately –0.75. Substantially lower (by ~ 40%) IRI thresholds were calculated for the total vibration value (six signals) in comparison with vertical vibration on the seat surface.