Course: Human Factors in the Aviation/Aerospace Industry
Introduction
Technological development has fostered advanced aircraft design. Computerized advanced control systems are now used to build aircraft electrical and mechanical systems and components. Computer-aided-design and computer-aided- manufacturing tools are used to build digital models of the aircraft. Such models include aircraft components such as the fuselage, the wings, and the aircraft seats. These models are used in the field of biomechanics to ensure aircraft seats are manufactured to accommodate flight stresses and absorb impact forces during accidents. What elements shall be considered for an effective aircraft seats design? Such answers will ensure engineers and designers build aircraft seats on par with biomechanics and safety requirements and standards.
Menegon et al. specified five criteria for comfort in their research on “Design and Validation of an Aircraft Seat Comfort Scale using Item Response Theory”. Such criteria are : mental, physical, environmental, object and contextual (Menegon et al., 2017). Laananneen recommended in his research on “Mathematical Simulations for Crashworthy Aircraft Seat Design” a twelve rigid mass segments system built using biomechanics and kinematics principles and a dummy test subject.
Discussion
Manufacturers design and build aircraft seats based on biomechanics and kinematics principles. It requires an understanding and application of the fundamental principles of physics such as forces, motion, gravity, center of mass, compression, tension, shear, pressure, mass distribution, mechanics of materials and stability and control. Human physiology is a key factor in seat design and manufacturers use design inputs such as leg room, seat spacing, and seat inclination angles to ensure passengers' comfort. Inputs such as seat dimensions, passengers’ posture and seat belts are used to ensure compliance with defined safety standards. Statics and dynamics principles on the center of mass are vital to seats design. they essentially constitutes of ensuring the elements' center of mass are located above their support pins systems to ensure equilibrium and stability. Another important principle is the effects of gravitational forces on seats, passenger and seats system, seats structure and seats materials. Due to the complex motions of an aircraft, seats design also takes into consideration principles such as the conservation of momentum, the stress-strain relationship and materials deformation principles. It is also important to note that seats designers and manufacturers use three-point location systems to analyze forces, moments and displacements at each node or joint equilibrium and ensure static principles are met.
Recommendations
Aircraft seats designers and manufacturers have demonstrated a thorough grasp of the fundamentals of engineering, biomechanics, and kinematics principles. They have also proved that passengers' comfort is taken into consideration during design activities. It is worth noting that aircraft seat design must start with a focus on safety. Upon an analysis of the forces impacting aircraft operations on the ground and in-flight, materials selection shall ensure a review of compositions resistant to shock, vibrations, deformation, extreme temperatures, and noise. The seat design team must then ensure total seats weight allocation meet the demands for an effective design. The focus shall now be shifted to seat dimensions and positions based on the aircraft capacity and stability principles. Here, they shall also ensure that ergonomics and passenger safety standard are met. Seat belt features, leg spacing, seats separations and inclinations are some of the engineering and design parameters that shall be solved. The objective here is to ensure passengers can move around safely and passengers' postures are not a health hazard. Accessories details to accommodate human biological needs shall be incorporated based on the functions of the aircraft. Commercial aircraft may require trays and cup holders, a military aircraft may require a weapon or safe ejection feature and a business aircraft may require fully retractable seats or a complex tray design. The passenger and seat system shall be thoroughly tested against shock scenarios, fuselage impacts, gravitational, angular momentum, and weight distribution principles. Aircraft manufacturers shall prioritize passengers’ health, safety, and comfort for an effective seat design.
Conclusion
Aircraft seats must be designed to accommodate flight stresses and absorb impact forces. Such requires a thorough application of theories such as the fundamentals of engineering, mechanics of materials, principles of physics, aerodynamics, and biomechanics. Human biology and psychology are a major factor of seat design. Computer-aided design and computer-aided-manufacturing tools are used to generate digital model of the aircraft seats. Such models allow for validating design input and identifying potential design issues at an early stage of the build. Aircraft manufacturers have demonstrated a thorough grasp of the theories and principles required for seats design. Aircraft manufacturers and regulatory agencies shall prioritize passengers' health, safety, and comfort to ensure effective and safe aircraft seats design.
References
Menegon, L.D.S., Vincenzi, S.L., De Andrade, D.F., Merino, E.A.D., Vink, P. (2017). Design
and Validation of an Aircraft Seat Comfort Scale Using Item Response Theory. Applied
Ergonomics, Vol. 62 P 216-226. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.03.005
Laananeen D. H. (2012, May 22). Mathematical Simulation for Crashworthy Aircraft Seat
Design. doi: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/3.58408
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