Comparative analysis of vibration transmissibility from floor to seat in diesel and electric self-propelled agricultural vehicles under real operating conditions

Abstract

The transmissibility of vibrations from the floor to the operator’s seat represents a fundamental indicator in assessing biomechanical comfort and the performance of suspension systems in self-propelled agricultural vehicles such as tractors. In the context of modern agriculture, prolonged exposure to vertical vibrations generated by uneven land necessitates a thorough analysis of the floor–seat system's ability to attenuate the dynamic loads transmitted to the operator. This paper proposes a comparative analysis of vibration transmissibility for two types of agricultural vehicles—a diesel tractor (model TD 80 D) and an electric tractor (model TE-0)—under real operating conditions, on two types of agricultural land (flat and ploughed land), at constant speeds of 5 km/h and 8 km/h. The study employs a rigorous experimental protocol, in which vibrations are simultaneously recorded at the cabin floor level and at the seat surface using strategically mounted triaxial accelerometer sensors, on the vertical axis (Z-axis), using the same reference operator, anthropometrically representative (75 kg). The transmissibility was determined by computing the spectral ratio of vibration amplitudes measured at the system’s output (seat) relative to those recorded at the input (floor), over the frequency range [0–80 Hz], covering the critical domain for human health effects according to the ISO 2631-1 vibration exposure standard. The comparative analysis of vibration transmissibility between the diesel and electric tractors, across various land types and speeds, enables a clear evaluation of the vibration.