Seat Dimensions for Comfort: Correlations and Design Method

Seat dimensions that influence human comfort are not independent. To improve the combined effect of the multiple-seat-dimension design, the correlations of key seat dimensions were analyzed. First, a structural-equation model was used to explore and test the relationships and influence path between the seat dimensions. Then, multiple regression analysis was used to explore the quantitative relationships between the seat dimensions. The results showed that the seat pan inclination, backrest inclination, and seat height are interrelated to form the seat support angle, which determines the human torso–thigh–calf angles in a sitting position and affects the dimension requirements of the lumbar and neck support. The study further proposes a quantitative model relating the key seat dimensions. Research has shown that comfortable seat dimension design cannot rely solely on the design of a single independent seat dimension but requires a unified design of multiple-seat dimensions. This study provides the quantitative relationships between comfortable seat dimensions for key seat-dimension-correlated design, which will help predict the comfortable dimension and improve dimension design comfort.