THE EFFECT OF ACCELERATION ON HUMAN CENTERS OF GRAVITY

Abstract

The location in two-dimensional (x-z) space of the center of gravity of the seated human body was studied on 25 living male subjects under conditions of experimentally controlled changes in the angle at which a 1g acceleration acted upon the completely restrained body. Varying the direction of acceleration from 15 degrees through 80 degrees, measured from the torso axis forward, produced a migration of the group average center of gravity along a curved path of 2.15 seconds arc length, a consistent rotation of the axis of maximum individual variability from 10 degrees 53 minutes aft of the torso axis to a maximum forward angle of 90 degrees 16 minutes, and a characteristic fluctuation in absolute size of the individual variation about the group average. The practical applications of these findings to the design of rocket-powered systems (e.g., escape capsules) is discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0271613

Entities

People

  • J. W. Chaffee

Organizations

  • General Dynamics

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Amplitude
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Confidence Limits
  • Data Science
  • Ejection Seats
  • Escape Systems
  • Flight
  • Geometry
  • Human Body
  • Information Science
  • Regression Analysis
  • Reliability
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Survival Kits
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers