investigation on ergonomics of tractor operation as influenced by human physiology, vibration and

349 Pages·2009·6.29 MB·English

INVESTIGATION ON ERGONOMICS OF TRACTOR
OPERATION AS INFLUENCED BY HUMAN
PHYSIOLOGY, VIBRATION AND NOISE
Thesis submitted in part fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Farm Power and Machinery)
to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore
by
P. K. BALASANKARI, M.E. (AM&M)
DEPARTMENT OF FARM POWER AND MACIDNERY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
TAMILNADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
COIMBATORE - 641 003
2003.
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the thesis entitled INVESTIGATION ON
ERGONOMICS OF TRACTOR OPERATION AS INFLUENCED BY
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, VIBRATION AND NOISE submitted in part
fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of DOCTOR OF
PHILOSOPHY in FARM POWER AND MACHINERY to the Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Coimbatore is a record of bonafide research work
carried out by Mrs. P. K. BALASANKARI, under my superyision and guidance
and that no part of this thesis has been submitted for tlie award of any other degree,
diploma, fellowship or similar titles or prizes and that the work has not been
published in part or full in any scientific or popular journal or magazine.
Place: Coimbatore
fi t, ell
Date: ~
Approved by
CHAIRMAN :
~ \ tfS
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MEMBERS: HIRVEL)
(Dr.M.SANS~~;AN)
(DrAsit~AN)
Q~~C3
EXTERNAL EXAMINER
Date: :<.7, /. )_(}tJ3

ABSTRACT
INVESTIGATION ON ERGONOMICS OF TRACTOR
OPERATION AS INFLUENCED BY HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY,
VIBRATION, AND NOISE
by
P.K.BALASANKARI
Degree Ph.D. (Farm Power and Machinery)
Chairman Dr.R.Manian
Professor and Head
Department of Farm Machinery
College of Agricultural Engineering
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore~ 641 003.
2002
India has emerged as the largest manufacturer of wheel type tractors in the
world. The complexity involved in tractor operation is mainly due to vibration,
noise, dust, exhaust fumes, rain, sunshine, etc and postural discomfort. Though
tractorization has reduced the drudgery involved in the farm operations, to know the
exact effect of vibration and noise on the operator an investigation was carried out
with two tractors (36.55 and 23.87 kW) for three operations (disc, cultivator and
empty trailer on bitumen road) at three levels of forward speed of 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5
km hoI for disc ploughing, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 km hoI for cultivator operation and 6.0,
8.0 and 10.0 km hoi for transport. Four subjects were selected and screened for
normal health. The energy cost of work was graded. The oxygen uptake in terms of
V0 max and work pulse were compared with acceptable limit of work load. The
2
whole body vibration and hand transmitted vibration were compared with the ISO
and BS standards to assess exposure limit of subjects. The noise was compared with
the OSHA (Occupational safety and health association) standard for its exposure
limit.
The energy cost of tractor for the selected operations varied from 9.86 to
16.66 kJ min-I. The selected operations with tractor are graded as moderate work.
Acceleration levels varied widely and were greatly dependent on variables such as
forward speed, type of operation and size of tractor. Acceleration levels increased with
forward speed of travel under all operating conditions. The exposure limit for driving
two tractors varied from 1 to 24 h, 2.5 -16 h and 16 min - 4h during disc ploughing,
cultivator operation and transport respectively. The values of hand transmitted
vibration were well within the acceptable limit and the exposure time to such hand.
transmitted vibration was 8 h. The noise levels of both the tractors were above the
safe limit (85dB).
The body'parts discomfort score and overall discomfort score were minimum
(45.67 and 1.67) during cultivator operation and were maximum during transport
condition (138.11 and 9.12 respectively). The results of BPDS and ODR confirmed
the severity of discomfort due to vibration experienced by the tractor operators. The
discomfort was localized in lower back, buttocks and mid back regions of the body.
With the provision of developed seat isolator, the per cent of reduction of
WBV varied from 12 to 42, 25 to 46 and 70 to 83 for disc ploughing, cultivator
operation and transport mode respectively. The increased exposure limit was 4-8 h
to > 8 h during disc ploughing and cultivator operations and was 2.5-4 h and > 8 h
during transport operation. The WBV recorded after placing the isolator in between
the tractor and trailer at the hitch point as well as the seat isolator produced an over
all reduction in the vibration which varied from 77.59 to 83.25 per cent.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am proud to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. R. Manian, Ph.D. Professor
and Head, Department of Farm machinery, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore and Chairman of the Advisory Committee for his expert guidance,
sustained encouragement, constructive criticisms, meticulous· editorial care and
personal encouragement rendered during the entire course of my study and successful
completion of this thesis are forever unforgettable.
I am highly thankful to the member of the Advisory Committee,
Dr. K. Kathirvel, Professor of Farm machinery, Dr. M. Sankaranarayanan
-
Professor, Computer centre and Dr. A. Sampathrajan, Professor and Head,
Department of Bio-energy for their esteemed guidance during my study. I also wish
to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. D. Ananthakrishnan, Professor, Department
of Farm Machinery, (Kumulur), Dr. C. Kailasam, Professor of Mathematics,
Dr. C. Ranganathan, Professor and Head, Department of Mathematics, TNAU
(Coimbatore), for being my chairman and members of the advisory committee
respectively and guiding me during my earlier tenure.
I wish to express my deep gratitude to Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research for providing financial assistance throughout the tenure of the study by
considering me as Senior Research fellow. I am very much thankful to Tamil Nadu
agricultural University for giving me an opportunity to carryout the research work in
benign environment.
It is my immense pleasure to acknowledge Dr.V.V. Sreenarayanan, Dean,
College of Agricultural Engineering, for his deemed support to complete the research
endeavour successfully. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. K. Kathirvel,
Professor, Department of Farm Machinery, for his meticulous guidance and
perspicacious consults to complete my research work effectively and timely. I am
indebted to his erudite manners and genial association through out the frame work of
study. I take this opportunity to thank Dr.B.Shridar, Associate Professor,
Department of Farm Machinery, for being the P.G, co-ordinator and rendering all
possible helps as and when required.
I express my sincere thanks to Dr.T. V. Job, Dr. V. J. F. Kumar,
Dr. M. Balasubramanian, Dr. K. Rangasamy, Professors, Dr. S.S. Sivakumar,
Assistant Professor, Department of Farm Machinery, Dr. G. Duraisamy, Professor
and Head, Dr. V. M. Duraiswamy, Associate Professor, Zonal Research Centre, for
their valuable counseling and critical appraisal and help rendered in the preparation
of this thesis is always rememberable.
The facilities and instruments provided under AICRP on HE SA for carrying
out the investigation are fully acknowledged. I am thankful to Mr. Suresh,
Department of statistics for his valuable guidance regarding the statistical analysis of
the research work.
lowe a great deal to Dr. L. P. Gite, Co-ordinator, HESA, AICRP on Human
Engineering and Safety in Agriculture, CIAE, Bhopal and Dr. C. R. Mehta, Senior
\
scientist, CIAE, Bhopal for their technical guidance and valuable consultations
throughout the tenure of research. I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to
Er. Kalyanasundram, MIS. Hi-Damp Vibration isolators, for his invaluable
suggestions and consultations and timely services, without which the research could
not have been completed so effectively.
I am in short of words to acknowledge the help rendered by Thiruvalargal
sustained help and cooperation rendered during the research work. Though
Marimuth is not among us now, he will be remembered for his services for ever.
I also take this opportunity to thank all the staff and artisans of Department of Farm
Machinery to their help during the period of study.
I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Chokalingam, Computer
centre, MIs Ravi Photo Flash, P. N. Pudur, Coimbatore, Vignesh Computers,
~
TNAU, for their perfect and timely execution of works.
I wish extend my heart felt thanks to my classmates, Mrs. Bini sam,
M. Muthamilselvan, and G. Senthilkumaran for all the support, help and
encouragement during the frame work of study. I also wish to express my sincere
thanks to Er. T. Senthilkumar, Er. P. K. Padmanabhan, Er. P. P. Rao and
Er. G. Aravind Reddy for their services in completing my research work effectively
and timely.
I will not be exaggerating to express my fervent gratitude and indebtedness to
my beloved parents"in"law, husband, daughters Sruthi and Swathi, brothers"in law,
co-sisters, sister-in-law, little Sneha, parents, sister & family and brother & family .
.,
for their inspiration, continuous encouragement and co-operation given throughout
my academic carrier.
~,I[" ~ahoJ\~'
(p. K. BALASANKARI)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE No.
LIST OF TABLES (i)
LIST OF FIGURES (ii)
LIST OF PLATES (iii)
LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS (iv)
I. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Tractorization in farming 1
1.2. Man~machine interaction in tractor operations 2
1.3. Technical advancement of tractors in India 5
1.4. Need for the investigation of ill~effects of tractor riding on health 6
of the operator
1.5. Considerations for the health and comfort of the 7
tractor operator
1.6. Formulation of objectives for the study 8
1.7 Expectation from the research work 9
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 11
2.1. Ergonomics of tractor 12
2.2. Selection of subjects 13
2.3. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) 14
2.4. Indirect assessment of O2 uptake 15
2.5. Calibration process 17