Computer Simulation of Whole-Body Vibration in Port Container Handling Machine Operators

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of whole-body vibrations (WBV) on ergonomics related to static posture during the operation of container handling machines (Portainer). A 3D numerical model of a seated man was developed using modal and harmonic analysis based on the finite element method (FEM), and implemented on the ANSYS platform to achieve this. Quantitative analyses of whole-body vibrations were carried out in actual workplaces at a port terminal in northeastern Brazil, considering the interaction between the human and the machine. A comparison was made between the real data collected at the operating sites and the values obtained from the developed model. Concerning vibration exposure, the results revealed a critical situation: in 86.2% of cases, the Acceleration of Resulting Normalized Exposure-A(8)-exceeded the alert level, and in 96.6% of cases, the Resulting Vibration Dose Value (VDV) also surpassed this threshold. Similarly, an alert level was exceeded in 97.0% of cases. According to the maximum limits established by Brazilian legislation, the acceleration from normalized exposure did not exceed the limit, while the resulting vibration dose value was surpassed in 20% of cases. The modal analysis results helped identify the critical directions of vibration response, thus supporting the assessment of human exposure effects and the structural performance of the system analyzed. The harmonic analysis showed good agreement between the model and the real acceleration data in the frequency range of 3 to 4 Hz.