Högskolan i Skövde

Digital human modelling (DHM) systems can be used to simulate production processes and analyse the human-machine interaction, particularly at early design stages. The human-machine interaction is affected and limited by factors or characteristics belonging to the human user and the machine or product but also the surrounding environment. DHM systems consider in most cases only physical user capabilities and with focus on consideration of body size related anthropometric diversity. However, the human-machine interaction is not only affected by the size and proportions of a user but for example also the user´s muscle strength and range of motion (ROM). This paper describes a study where diversity in strength and ROM, together with diversity in body size, is implemented in the process of creating data for a group of human arm models. A literature study was done to investigate the diversity of strength and ROM and the correlation between such measurements and body size data. The results from the literature study showed that there is little correlation between body size, strength and ROM. The study also showed that there are few published studies where body size, strength and ROM have been tested at the same time. From the literature study, generic correlation coefficients between body size, strength and ROM were synthesized. Using these correlation coefficients and Principal Component Analysis, data for a group of 14 female arm models with varying body size, strength and ROM were calculated. The results show that it is possible to introduce additional variables such as strength and ROM, but also that data of the correlation between body size and other types of anthropometric measurements are scarce. New measurement studies are important to decrease the uncertainties when predicting correlation coefficients between body size, strength and ROM variables.