The Transmission of Vibration through Gloves to the Hand and to the Fingers: Effects of Material Dynamic Stiffness

In International Standard 10819 (1996), the requirements for a glove to be considered an anti-vibration glove are determined by the transmission of vibration to the palm of the hand. The transmission of vibration to a finger is very different from the transmission of vibration to the palm, but there are currently no requirements to measure the transmission of vibration through gloves to the fingers. This study investigated the effects of material dynamic properties on the transmission of vibration to the palm of the hand and to the fingers. Two materials (foam material from one anti-vibration glove and gel material from another anti-vibration glove) were investigated. Subjects placed their palms or index fingers on the material and pushed down with a force of 10 N while the transmission of random vibration was measured over the frequency range 5 to 500 Hz. At frequencies greater than 20 Hz, both materials attenuated vibration to the palm of the hand but amplified vibration to the finger. The study shows that the materials in gloves can both attenuate and amplify the transmission of vibration, depending on the material, the frequency of vibration, and the location on the hand (palm or finger).