Since 1963
ARTICLE
Passive suspension system of a child safety seat – optimization and analysis of vibration isolation effectiveness
1
Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, Koszalin, Poland
Submission date: 2026-04-01
Final revision date: 2026-06-25
Acceptance date: 2026-07-04
Online publication date: 2026-09-01
Publication date: 2026-09-01
Corresponding author
Natalia Justyna FLOREK
Department of Mechatronics and Automation, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, Sniadeckich 2, 75-432 Koszalin, Poland
Department of Mechatronics and Automation, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, Sniadeckich 2, 75-432 Koszalin, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study is to analyze the vibration damping properties of a passive suspension system for a child car seat that is designed to reduce the impact of vertical accelerations on the child’s body during vehicle travel. The motivation for undertaking this research is the absence of vibration isolation solutions dedicated to this group of users, despite the well-documented sensitivity of children to vibrations in the frequency range of 4 Hz to 10 Hz. A physical and mathematical model of the suspension system was developed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, incorporating springs, hydraulic dampers, bump stops, and nonlinear friction forces. To evaluate vibration isolation performance, acceleration signals were analyzed using the power spectral density (PSD), the root mean square (RMS) value, and the Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility (SEAT) factor. In the study, the influence of key structural parameters such as spring stiffness, damping characteristics, and end-stop elements on the effectiveness of vibration reduction was analyzed. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization procedure was applied to determine the optimal parameters of the suspension system, aiming to minimize the accelerations transmitted to the child seat while maintaining the required design constraints. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed passive system significantly reduces vibration amplitudes within the low-frequency range and improves the value of the SEAT factor. The results confirm the potential of passive vibration isolation systems for child safety seats and provide a basis for further experimental validation.
REFERENCES (22)
1.
Alawneh, O., Zhong, X., Faieghi, R., & Xi, F. (2022). Finite element methods for modeling the pressure distribution in human body–seat interactions: A systematic review. Applied Sciences, 12(12), Article 6160. https://doi.org/10.3390/app121....
2.
Bai, X.-X., Xu, S.-X., Cheng, W., & Qian, L.-J. (2017). On 4-degree-of-freedom biodynamic models of seated occupants: Lumped-parameter modeling. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 402, 122–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.....
3.
Duda, S., Dudek, O., Gembalczyk, G., & Machoczek, T. (2020). Developing a test site for testing the suspension of vehicles with omnidirectional wheels. Vibrations in Physical Systems, 31(3), 2020304-1–2020304-8. https://doi.org/10.21008/j.086....
4.
Florek, N.J., & Maciejewski, I. (2025). The impact of vibrations on the comfort and safety of children in car seats: A review of current knowledge. Vibrations in Physical Systems, 36(2), 2025211-1–2025211-8. https://doi.org/10.21008/j.086....
5.
Frej, D. (2018). Influence of wheel imbalance on driver’s vibration comfort – front and rear axle (in Polish). In M. Bogusz, M. Wojcieszak, & P. Rachwał (Eds.), Poszerzamy Horyzonty (Vol. IX, pp. 531–553). https://www.konferencjenaukowe....
6.
Frej, D., & Grabski, P. (2019). The impact of the unbalanced rear wheel on the vibrating comfort of the child seat. Transportation Research Procedia, 40, 678–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpr....
7.
Frej, D., & Grabski, P. (2023). Trends in choosing the right child seat – survey research. Transportation Research Procedia, 74, 1308–1317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpr....
8.
Giacomin, J. (2000). Some observations regarding the vibrational environment in child safety seats. Applied Ergonomics, 31(2), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-....
9.
Giacomin, J. (2004). Apparent mass of small children: experimental measurements. Ergonomics, 47(13), 1454–1474. https://doi.org/10.1080/001401....
10.
Giacomin, J. (2005). Absorbed power of small children. Clinical Biomechanics, 20 (4),372–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clin....
11.
Gromadowski, T., & Więckowski, D. (2012). Analysis of vertical vibration affecting the child in a car with the use of the white noise signal input (in Polish). Postępy Nauki i Techniki, 14, 83–94.
12.
Hryciów, Z., Małachowski, J., Rybak, P., & Wiśniewski, A. (2021). Research of vibrations of an armoured personnel carrier hull with FE implementation. Materials, 14(22), Article 6807. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1422....
13.
International Organization for Standardization. (1997). Mechanical vibration and shock – Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 1: General requirements (ISO Standard No. 2631-1:1997). https://www.iso.org/standard/7....
14.
International Organization for Standardization. (2001). Mechanical vibration and shock – Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 4: Guidelines for the evaluation of the effects of vibration and rotational motion on passenger and crew comfort in fixed-guideway transport systems (ISO Standard No. 2631-4:2001). https://www.iso.org/standard/3....
15.
International Organization for Standardization. (2018). Mechanical vibration and shock – Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 5: Method for evaluation of vibration containing multiple shocks (ISO Standard No. 2631-5:2018). https://www.iso.org/standard/5....
16.
Krzyzynski, T., Maciejewski, I., Meyer, L., & Meyer, H. (2019). Modelling and control design of vibration reduction systems. Methods and procedures of selecting vibro-isolation properties. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
17.
Łagoda, T. (2001). Energy models for fatigue life estimation under uniaxial random loading. Part I: The model elaboration. International Journal of Fatigue, 23(6), 467–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-....
18.
Maciejewski, I., Zlobinski, M., Krzyzynski, T., & Glowinski, S. (2020). Vibration control of an active horizontal seat suspension with a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 488, Article 115655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.....
19.
Nilsson, M. (2005). Health risk aspects and comfort for infants in infant seats for cars. VTI Notat 24-2005. Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI).
20.
Wicher, J., & Więckowski, D. (2010). Influence of vibrations of the child seat on the comfort of child’s ride in a car. Eksploatacja i Niezawodność – Maintenance and Reliability, 4, 102–110.
21.
Zhang, X., Qiu, Y., & Griffin, M.J. (2015). Developing a simplified finite element model of a car seat with occupant for predicting vibration transmissibility in the vertical direction. Ergonomics, 58(7), 1220–1231. https://doi.org/10.1080/001401....
22.
Zuska, A., Szumska, E., & Frej, D. (2021). Laboratory tests of the control of the child seats using method for the vibration comfort of children transported in them. Communications – Scientific Letters of the University of Zilina, 23(3), B187–B199. https://doi.org/10.26552/com.C....
| eISSN: | 2543-6309 |
| ISSN: | 1429-2955 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
