Abstract
This study aims to find equivalent comfort contours, reciprocal of frequency weighting curves, for vertical steering wheel vibration. Psychophysical responses were measured from twelve male subjects by using magnitude estimation of relative discomfort due to vertical steering wheel vibrations of magnitude of 0.1 to 1.58 $m/s^2$ in the frequency range of 4 to 250 Hz. Relative discomfort were estimated with a reference vibration of 0.4 $m/s^2$ at 31.5 Hz. Equivalent comfort contours were produced from the median of sensation magnitudes judged by twelve subjects, which showed variation in the shapes with increase of vibration magnitude. A shape of the contour came close to the perception threshold curve with decrease of vibration magnitude. When the vibration magnitude increases, the shape changed close to those in the references of Hong and et al (2003). It is also recommended frequency weighting curves for vertical steering wheel vibration must be expressed as a function of vibration magnitude as well as frequency.