Investigation of grip force, normal force, contact area, hand size, and handle size for cylindrical handles.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Armstrong TJ ; Seo NJ
• Description:
  Objective: To investigate relationships among grip forces, normal forces, contact area for cylindrical handles, handle diameter, hand size, and volar hand area. Background: Data describing those relationships are needed to predict thrust forces and torque capability. Method: Additional analyses were performed retrospectively on data collected in two previous studies in which participants performed maximum grip exertions on cylinders (diameter 38-83 mm) while grip force, normal force, and contact area were recorded. The length, width, and volar area of the hand were measured. Results: Average total normal force on cylinders was 2.3 times greater than grip force measured using a split cylinder (R2 = 65%), regardless of the handle diameter examined. The ratio of handle diameter to hand length explained 62%, 57%, and 71% of the variances in grip force, normal force, and contact area, respectively. Estimated hand area (hand length × width) had a linear relationship with measured hand area (using photographs; R2 = 91%), although it was 8% less than the measured area. Conclusion: This work describes the relationship between normal force and grip force independent of handle size (for handle diameters from 38 to 83 mm). Normal force and contact area can be explained by the interaction between handle size and hand size. Hand area can be estimated by hand length times width. Application: The quantitative relationships described in this paper can be used in the design of objects and hand tools to determine optimal handle sizes for maximizing grip force, total normal force, or contact area. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Biomechanics; Equipment design; Ergonomics; Force; Upper extremities; Body mechanics
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065868
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2008 Oct; 50(5):734-744
• Contact Point Address:
  Na Jin Seo, Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, 1205 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
• Email:
  najins@umich.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:677568324f533f0e18614978bda5a2918823ce812d19da79cd424dec84809291b3a2d3cc1af22dcc2cf1fc5e563850208cdf7ceca2d5611fd4e225aaacad1c8c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249579/cdc_249579_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 310.15 KB ]