Within the reference case, the following driver/seat kinematic/
interaction parameters are used: back-rest (backward) inclination
angle ¼ 10; seat-height ¼ 600 mm (relative to the foot-rest);
human-body/car-seat friction coefficient ¼ 0.5 (corresponds to
a typical value associated with woven wool- or cotton-based fabric
seat upholstery); seat-pan track position ¼ 830 mm (corresponds
to the distance between the driver’s right heel and the driver’s right
hip); and lumbar support is used.
An example of the results of the present musculoskeletal
computational analysis of long-distance driving comfort and
fatigue for the reference case is displayed in Fig. 4. In this figure, the
extent of actuation of the various muscles is displayed pictorially by
the extent of their bulging. Furthermore, muscle groups associated
with the largest levels of activation are identified and the typical
range of activation is indicated. It is seen that the following three