OPTIMAL PRODUCTS' HAND-HANDLE INTERFACE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION.

The paper reports findings of investigating optimal interface material parameters of product handle to improve its ergonomics by increasing the user performance, comfort, and lower the risk of cumulative trauma disorder development. Optimisation methods in combination with the finite element computer simulations of a human fingertip whilst grasping a handle were used to determine an interface foam material with optimal material properties for best mechanical behaviour of the system. A single objective function was defined to determine best material parameters of the interface foam material, which has to remain firm during low grasping forces to provide stability of the product grasp and appropriately deforms when a critical contact pressure is reached to provide higher contact area. This increases comfort and lowers the contact pressure on the hand and thereby the risk of injury development. The optimisation process yielded the optimised foam thickness and its stress-strain relationship for simulated contact of fingertip model grasping a product handle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]