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Test method for empirically determining inertial properties of manual wheelchairs. Matthew R. Eicholtz, MS; Jayme J. Caspall, MS; Phuc V. Dao, MS; Stephen Sprigle, PhD, PT; Al Ferri, PhD. Study Aim Design and study a method for empirically measuring inertia properties of manual wheelchairs.
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Test method for empirically determining inertial properties of manual wheelchairs Matthew R. Eicholtz, MS; Jayme J. Caspall, MS; Phuc V. Dao, MS; Stephen Sprigle, PhD, PT; Al Ferri, PhD
Study Aim • Design and study a method for empirically measuring inertia properties of manual wheelchairs. • Relevance • Results will improve and generate new studies on wheelchair performance, especially during turning maneuvers, in which inertia is important.
Methods • Used iMachine for tests. • Spring-loaded turntable for measuring inertial properties of irregularly shaped rigid bodies. • Calculated wheelchair mass and center of mass from static force measurements using load cells. • Used Newton-Euler approach. • Determined moment of inertia about vertical axis from natural frequency of system in simple harmonic motion. • Calibrated iMachine to eliminate effects of platform components on measurement error.
Results • Average relative error: • Mass = 0.76% • Center of mass • x-axis = 0.89% • y-axis = 1.99% • Resolution of moment of inertia calculation depends on ratio of test piece inertia to system inertia: ratio indicates = measurement accuracy • Gage repeatability and reproducibility test with 3 manual wheelchairs: • Each completed 3 tests by 3 different operators. • 99% of inertia variance caused by wheelchair differences.
Results Relative error vs inertia ratio (ratio of test piece inertia to total inertia of test piece and turntable).
Conclusions • iMachine measurement system operation is acceptable for both inertia and mass measurement using criteria from Automobile Industry Action Group.