Analysis of the lamella dimensions of the bed slat for the bariatric respondent: A modelling approach

ABSTRACT

This work analysed bed lamella dimensional characteristics for beds of bariatric users. Dimensions of the Slovak bariatric population were defined in the years 2020 to 2022 and used to design the length and thickness of bed lamellae. The thickness of lamellae made of spruce and beech wood (grade C24 and D50) was determined from the weight of the bariatric population while meeting the requirements of EN 1995. The bending deflection was calculated by a linear FEM model that was verified with the experimentally measured deflection of ungraded spruce and beech wood lamellae. The difference in deflection was 2.7% and 1.4% for spruce and beech, respectively. The minimal thickness of the lamella was always determined based on the allowable deflection limit criterion. The stress of the lamellae was below 70% of the allowable stresses of the spruce wood lamella (C24) and 37% in the case of beech wood lamella (D50). A non-linear dependence of the minimum lamella thickness on the weight of the bariatric respondent was presented. Designing a bed lamella loaded in bending is more effective by increasing the thickness of the spruce wood lamella than by using a beech wood lamella with a higher modulus of elasticity.

KEYWORDS:

• Obesity
• furniture design
• bariatric furniture
• bending
• solid wood bed

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency [contract No. APVV-20-0004] The Effect of an Increase in the Anthropometric Measurement of the Slovak Population on the Functional Properties of Furniture and the Business Processes, [APVV-21-0049] Processing of the beech raw material into the dimension timber and glued boards with significant dimensional stability, [APVV-21-0015] Utilisation and transfer of biomimetic mechanisms of wood into the design of a new form and properties of furniture, interior, and housing and [KEGA 009STU-4/2021] Innovations in the teaching processes of technical subjects by implementing augmented and virtual reality.