Evaluating the effectiveness of substitute vibration dampers in reducing transmitted hand-arm vibrations to an operator of a gasoline-fueled hand tractor in Los Baños Laguna, Philippines

Date

7-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Mikel Angelo B. Yap

Abstract

Hand tractors are commonly used by farmers in the Philippines. Even with its advantages, it exposes its operators to risk of musculoskeletal diseases particularly hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Vibration dampers are commonly used to reduce transmitted hand-arm vibrations (HAV) to operators. This study evaluated the effectiveness of substitute materials used by farmers as dampers on a gasoline engine and compares it to the results of a diesel engine. Five types of substitute handle grips and three types of substitute engine mounts were evaluated. The baseline measurements computed in the hand for 2100, 2400, 2700, 3000, 3300 and 3600rpm were 6.584 m/s^2, 7.628 m/s^s, 8.349 m/s^2, 7.323 m/s^2, 11.756 m/s^s and 12.189 m/s^s, respectively. Engine speeds significantly influence the total transmitted vibrations. Only vibrations at the hand exceeded the exposure limit value of 5 m/s^2. Each damper was evaluated using the six engine speeds for the gasoline engine. All substitute materials for the handle grips were able to significantly reduce vibration accelerations while only one engine mount was effective. The best handle grip for both engines, the air conditioning insulators, was able to reduce vibration accelerations by 47.352% for the gasoline engines, the car tire sidewalls, was able to reduce vibrations by 30.854% and 57.062% for gasoline and engines respectively. The combination of each handle grip and engine mount was also evaluated to determine its effect to transmitted hand-arm vibration. The best combination of substitute damper for both engines were the same and were comprised of car tire sidewalls with 45 mm thickness as engine mount and air conditioning insulator Armacell brand as handle grip. This combination was able to reduce transmitted vibration accelerations by up to 55.284% (3.702 m/s^s) for the gasoline engine and 59.72% (4.759 m/s^2) for the diesel engine. Using engine speed as block, statistical analysis of the results for the best combination between the two engines shows a significant difference on the vibration reduction: 56.753% (3.691 m/s^2) for the gasoline engine and 62.360% (4.329 m/s^2) for the diesel engine.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 E66 /B53

Document Type

Thesis

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