Inertial Properties of an External-Frame Backpack Device.

摘要

Previously, an external-frame backpack device (35 kg) was fabricated allowing for the placement of a 24.9-kg lead brick load in nine different positions. The purpose of this report was to determine the moment of inertia (MOI) of the backpack for the nine load positions relative to: the backpack's center of mass (COM); reference axes originating on the backpack frame; the COM for the human torso and backpack combined; and the COM for the human body and backpack combined. For the backpack about its COM, the lowest MOI values were found when the COM was located intermediate/central and intermediate/close relative to the load-carrier's trunk. For the backpack relative to the reference axes, the lowest MOI values were found when the COM was located low/central and low/close to the trunk. For the torso and backpack system and for the body and backpack system, the lowest MOI values were found when the COM relative to the trunk was in the intermediate/close or high/close position and the low/close or intermediate/close position, respectively. These data will be used in research examining the effects of manipulations of the COM and the MOI of backpack loads on load carriers' biomechanical and physiological responses.