The thesis presents an investigation of pregnant women s safety and comfort needs during car travel. A survey is used to investigate all aspects and problems of car travel. This survey is a comprehensive examination of the entire driving activity with much detail of reported difficulties from pregnant women that forms a novel resource for the automotive engineers. The survey results are used to generate guidelines for the automotive industry. A series of sled tests are presented that investigate seat belt use in pregnancy including the use of lap belt positioners. The peak abdominal pressure results clearly agree with current guidelines that the lap belt should be positioned across the hips and not across the abdomen. This research includes a novel anthropometric dataset for 107 pregnant women including measurements especially selected for the field of automotive design and to describe the changes of pregnancy. This includes investigation of pregnant driver s proximity to the steering wheel. A novel measurement of knee splay is used to define the pregnant women s preference to sit with their knees widely spaced instead of knees together, in both normal sitting and in a car. Comparison is made between the pregnant women's measurements and the available data in the literature for non-pregnant women and males, and this shows that pregnant women can be excluded from designs if the accommodation does not consider their needs. The pregnant women's anthropometric data is presented as a novel website in order to make the data available to the automotive industry. This website is generated for use by automotive engineers and is designed to suit their usability needs and the general trends within the industry, in order to make the site more user-friendly and more likely to be used as a reference for pregnant occupant's needs.

This thesis presents a systematic study of human responses to different motions and strategies of car body tilt control regarding ride comfort, working/reading ability and motion sickness on high-speed tilting trains. Experiments with test subjects were performed in a tilting train on curved track as well as in a moving vehicle simulator. The study is multi-disciplinary, combining knowledge and methods from the fields of railway technology, human factors and vestibular science. The main experiment in a tilting train was performed with about 75 seated test subjects, mainly students from Linköping University, making three test runs. In total, these subjects participated in about 210 individual test rides, each with a duration of about 3 hours. Additional tests on comfort disturbances with pushbutton technique have been reported in the project. The simulator experiments used a total of about 75 subjects, making some 320 test rides each of about 30 minutes duration. Test motions consisted of combinations of horizontal (lateral) acceleration and roll acceleration, together with either roll or horizontal acceleration. Rate of change of horizontal acceleration (jerk) and roll velocity were of the same order of magnitude as in a tilting train environment, but horizontal acceleration alone was about half the magnitude. Horizontal and vertical vibrations from a tilting train were added to the test motions, and train seats and interior train noise were also introduced to create a "train feeling". Test designs and methodology have been developed during the course of the experiments. The test subjects answered questionnaires, four times per test run in the train experiment and each 5 minute in the simulator experiment. The investigated variables were: estimated average ride comfort, estimated ability to work or read, and occurrence of symptoms of motion sickness (dizziness, nausea and not feeling well). Lateral and vertical accelerations together with roll motions were monitored and recorded for later evaluation. Results from the train experiments show that the estimated average ride comfort was about 4 on a 5-degree scale, which indicates “good”. Results also show that a reduced tilt compensation of the lateral acceleration while curving together with a reduced tilt velocity of the car body reduce the provocation of motion sickness. However, a reduction in tilt compensation may produce an increased number of comfort disturbances due to lateral acceleration in the car body. Regression analysis shows that motion doses from roll acceleration may be used to predict the incidence of motion sickness. The simulator experiments show that the primary sources of provocation of nausea and motion sickness are the motion doses from roll and lateral acceleration in the horizontal plane. The study proposes a hypothesis and a model of provocation of motion sickness. It is shown that motion sickness has a time decay, or leakage. A model for this leakage is proposed. The determinative types of motion for provocation of nausea and motion sickness in tilting trains are identified and future tilting train and/or simulator experiments are proposed in order to further investigate their influence. / <p>NR 20140805</p>

This thesis was performed in cooperation with Uniti Sweden, an emerging electricalvehicle manufacturer in Sweden. Uniti Sweden is developing a new vehicle, with aprototype slated for a Q3 2017 release. This thesis is about the driver's seat in the Uniti vehicle. The aim of the thesis was todevelop the seat partly by creating a design manual for future use. Data for the project was gathered using triangulation, using interviews,benchmarking, literature searches from different perspectives. Six different aspectswas studied, regulation, comfort and discomfort, aesthetics, biomechanics andergonomics, design and anthropometrics. The seat was developed using QFD anddiscussions with Uniti personnel, however, the development part was put on hold dueto Uniti's schedule, and greater emphasis was put on design manual. The designmanual featured three parameters, fit, feel and support. The project concluded with a technical report, featuring the design manual, theresults from the product development, a checklist and a thesaurus.

This thesis' work has been conducted at and made possible by Autoliv Sverige AB in Vårgårda. The aim of this thesis is to study how the occupant experience of the belt changes when it is moved from a traditional installation point in the car's B-pillar, to the seat. This shall be studied in terms of how the perceived comfort is influenced by a belt in seat in an upright and a reclined seat back position of 20 and 45 degrees, for different sizes of occupants. Also how the ability to reach a belt in seat is affected by the size and mobility of the occupant. Based on this new knowledge, an optimal outlet position for a belt in seat shall be proposed, from a comfort perspective. The work has used a cross-sectional research approach to achieve its purpose. Through the cross-sectional approach, several different qualitative and quantitative methods have been used. Initially, a literature study where subjects relevant to the forthcoming study was studied. Meanwhile, a competitive analysis of existing belt in seat installations in new cars available on the market was planned and carried out. In the main element of this work, a two-part comfort and mobility study with a belt in seat was performed. The study combined the methods interview, survey and observation. Through the interview, qualitative questions were asked as a complement to the quantitative responses given by the test subjects on scales in the survey. Observations were used to observe the subjects' behavior and difficulties regarding the belt in seat. A major limitation of the results of the study is the deficient distribution of sitting heights and genders in the group of test subjects, which founded a certain bias in the results. This has been the reason why it has not been possible to draw any certain conclusions from the results, however, some trends have been seen. The comfort study revealed several different assessments of the belt that contributed to discomfort, including the perception of the belt being too close to the neck or too far out on the shoulder. Additionally, the discomfort significantly impaired when the seat was reclined to the relaxed state. The mobility study showed that more subjects felt limited by their own bodies in the movement than by the belt. In addition did the reversed belt geometry create large discomfort issues at the neck. An important conclusion of this thesis is that the seat's design is as important to the customer experience of discomfort of the belt as the positioning of the outlet. It has also become clear that the accessibility of a belt in seat is strongly limited, as it was tested in this study.

Background: Myths, misconceptions and a general lack of information surround the use of gloves and mittens in extreme cold environments. Objective. This study assessed how well an assortment of gloves and mittens performed in a very cold environment. Methods. A convenience sample of gloves and mittens were tested in Antarctica during the winter of 2016 using a calibrated thermometer (range: -148 degrees F to +158 degrees F/-1008C to +70 degrees C) three times over a 0.5-mile distance (similar to 20 minutes). A small sensor on a 10-foot-long cable was taped to the radial surface of the distal small finger on the non-dominant hand. The tested clothing was donned over the probe, the maximum temperature inside the glove/mitten was established near a building exit (ambient temperature approximately 54 degrees F/12 degrees C), and the building was exited, initiating the test. The hand was kept immobile during the test. Some non-heated gloves were tested with chemical heat warmers placed over the volar or dorsal wrist. Results. The highest starting (96 degrees F/36 degrees C) and ending (82 degrees F/28 degrees C) temperatures were with electrically heated gloves. The lowest starting temperature was with electrically heated gloves with the power off (63 degrees F/17 degrees C). Non-heated gloves with an inserted chemical hand warmer had the lowest minimum temperature (33 degrees F/1 degrees C). Maximum temperatures for gloves/mittens did not correlate well with their minimum temperature. Conclusions. Coverings that maintained finger temperatures within a comfortable and safe range (at or above 59 degrees F/15 degrees C) included the heated gloves and mittens (including some with the power off) and mittens with liners. Mittens without liners (shell) generally performed better than unheated gloves. Better results generally paralleled the item's cost. Inserting chemical heat warmers at the wrist increased heat loss, possibly through the exposed area around the warmer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge about how the warming effects of climate change may affect indoor living standards, considering that we are already living with some over-temperatures during the summer time. The specific aim is therefore to show how thermal climate in warm passive houses will be perceived, and how specific energy consumption will be affected, within the near future in southern Sweden. Method: To order to achieve the aim, a specific scenario of future temperatures had to be defined. Official climate data for the year 2050 in Gothenburg was collected and compiled. A certified passive house was theoretically exposed to the expected future climate and indoor temperature as well as energy consumption was calculated. Calculations were made using the energy calculation software BV2 for reference conditions and adaptions of both climate as well as technical solutions for greater thermal comfort. Findings: A climate scenario for Gothenburg during year 2050 illustrates that the average year-temperature increases from +7.7°C to +9.9°C. The largest change can be observed during the winter, with an increase peaking at +2.5 ºC. The results show an increase from 65 to 107 number of days during the year in which the studied passive house has an inadequate indoor temperature, as a consequence of over-temperatures. One method for thermal climate enhancing, using a combination of sun screening and air conditioning powered by solar cells, showed having good impact without considerably affecting the specific energy consumption. Implications: In a passive house without air conditioning, the thermal indoor climate will reach an unacceptable level for the tenants, more often in the year 2050, than during the reference period, due to warmer outside temperatures. The method which has the smallest impact upon the energy consumption is sun screening, while air conditioning is the most effective, but also very energy consuming. In order to optimally conserve the thermal indoor climate without decreasing the free energy during the winter, one should install both sun screening and air conditioning in their passive house. Limitations: The result is applicable on passive houses within climate zone III, but the general conclusions made applies for all passive houses in Sweden. Using different methods of calculating the indoor temperature may result in variable results. Keywords: Climate change, Passive house, Indoor climate, Thermal comfort, Energy consumption

This study aimed to develop retrofitted natural ventilation options and control strategies for existing office buildings to improve thermal comfort, indoor air quality and energy consumption. For this purpose, a typical office building was selected in order to identify opportunities and constraints when implementing such strategies. Actual performance of the case study building was evaluated by conducting quantitative and qualitative field measurements including physical measurements and questionnaire surveys. Based on the actual building performance, a combination of Dynamic Thermal Simulation (using IES) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (using PHOENICS) models were built to develop appropriate natural ventilation options and control strategies to find a balance between energy consumption, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. Several retrofitted options and control strategies were proposed and the best retrofitted natural ventilation options and control strategies were installed in the case study building. Post occupancy evaluation of the case study building after the interventions was also carried out by conducting physical measurements and questionnaire surveys. Post refurbishment measurements revealed that energy consumption and risk of overheating in the refurbished building were reduced by 9% and 80% respectively. The risk of unacceptable indoor air quality was also reduced by 60% in densely occupied zones of the building. The results of questionnaire surveys also revealed that the percentage of dissatisfied occupants reduced by 80% after intervention. Two new products including a Motorized ceiling tile and NVlogIQ , a natural ventilation wall controller, were also developed based on the results of this study.

This essay explores men´s relationship to training through a phenomenological understanding of bodily comfort and orientation. This is done by a survey performed with three men who identified themselves as feminist and continuingly exercise their bodies. The phenomenological understanding is then broadened by coupling the men's experiences to contemporary research on masculinity. By employing theories surrounding Sara Ahmed's view on phenomenology and Raewyn Connell's hegemonic masculinity, the essay shows that the men's bodily comfort and orientation is affected by the fact that they exercise. Through their training they construct bodies that in some aspects correlates with the conception of being in form, being fit. It also correlates with normative conceptions of masculine bodies. The conception of the fit body and masculinity is also explored through a view on norms of society. The feeling of incorporating social norms increases the men's bodily comfort, and give them a sense of being in control of their bodies. That they identified as feminist shows that they have an ambivalent relationship to their practitioner.

Increasing concern about energy consumption and thesimultaneous need for an acceptable thermal environment makesit necessary to estimate in advance what effect differentthermal factors will have on the occupants. Temperaturemeasurements alone do not account for all climate effects onthe human body and especially not for local effects ofconvection and radiation. People as well as thermal manikinscan detect heat loss changes on local body parts. This factmakes it appropriate to develop measurement methods andcomputer models with the corresponding working principles andlevels of resolution. One purpose of this thesis is to linktogether results from these various investigation techniqueswith the aim of assessing different effects of the thermalclimate on people. The results can be used to facilitatedetailed evaluations of thermal influences both in indoorenvironments in buildings and in different types ofvehicles. This thesis presents a comprehensive and detaileddescription of the theories and methods behind full-scalemeasurements with thermal manikins. This is done with new,extended definitions of the concept of equivalent temperature,and new theories describing equivalent temperature as avector-valued function. One specific advantage is that thelocally measured or simulated results are presented with newlydeveloped "comfort zone diagrams". These diagrams provide newways of taking into consideration both seat zone qualities aswell as the influence of different clothing types on theclimate assessment with "clothing-independent" comfort zonediagrams. Today, different types of computer programs such as CAD(Computer Aided Design) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)are used for product development, simulation and testing of,for instance, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)systems, particularly in the building and vehicle industry.Three different climate evaluation methods are used andcompared in this thesis: human subjective measurements, manikinmeasurements and computer modelling. A detailed description ispresented of how developed simulation methods can be used toevaluate the influence of thermal climate in existing andplanned environments. In different climate situationssubjective human experiences are compared to heat lossmeasurements and simulations with thermal manikins. Thecalculation relationships developed in this research agree wellwith full-scale measurements and subject experiments indifferent thermal environments. The use of temperature and flowfield data from CFD calculations as input produces acceptableresults, especially in relatively homogeneous environments. Inmore heterogeneous environments the deviations are slightlylarger. Possible reasons for this are presented along withsuggestions for continued research, new relationships andcomputer codes. Key-words:equivalent temperature, subject, thermalmanikin, mannequin, thermal climate assessment, heat loss,office environment, cabin climate, ventilated seat, computermodel, CFD, clothing-independent, comfort zone diagram. / <p>QCR 20161027</p>

Sunlight is a multidimensional phenomenon that influences occupant’s comfort and well-being through its dynamic visual and thermal attributes. Previous studies suggested that the presence of sunlight patterns in space was cheering and visually interesting, which could improve visual comfort and space quality. However, it remains unclear what the attributes of visually interesting sunlight patterns are, and whether their visual interest influences visual comfort. This dissertation aims to answer three main questions: (1) is there a difference in visual interest and mood response among different projected light patterns? (2) How do sunlight patterns of different geometries influence visual interest and visual comfort in offices? And (3) what are the geometrical attributes of sunlight patterns that should be implemented in office spaces? To address these questions, a series of four studies were conducted. The first two studies extended empirical findings on visual interest and mood responses elicited by varying complexities of fractal and non-fractal light patterns projected on walls and floors of an interior space. These two studies determined which patterns to be further examined in Studies 3 and 4, which investigated the visual comfort, visual interest of sunlight patterns, and view quality under three different window conditions in office spaces. The results of studies 1 and 2 suggested that fractal light patterns of medium to medium-high complexity, quantified by the fractal dimension in the range (D=1.5-1.7), were significantly more visually interesting than other patterns. Both studies found that fractal compared to non-fractal light patterns provided a better balance between relaxation and excitement. Study 3 found that the fractal pattern was associated with a significant increase in visual comfort, compared to the striped pattern, though the difference in visual interest between the two patterns was not statistically significant. Study 4 found that the effect of the fractal pattern on visual comfort, visual interest of sunlight patterns, and view quality was dependent on occupant’s view direction and façade orientation. These findings can have implications for the design and control of facade systems to improve occupant’s visual comfort, interest, and view quality in work environments. This dissertation includes both previously published/unpublished and co-authored material. / 2019-01-27