Background: Theoretically, balance is affected by the height of center of mass (COM) during quiet standing. However, no one examined this in humans with variables derived from the center of pressure (COP). Objects: We have conducted balance experiment to measure COP data during quiet standing, in order to examine how the COP measures were affected by the height of COM, vision, floor conditions, and gender. Methods: Twenty individuals stood still with feet together and arms at sides for 30 seconds on a force plate. Trials were acquired with three COM heights: 1% increased or decreased, and not changed, with two vision conditions: eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO), and with two floor conditions: unstable (foam pad) and stable (force plate) floor. Outcome variables included the mean distance, root mean square distance, total excursion, mean velocity, and 95% confidence circle area. Results: All outcome variables were associated with the COM height (p < 0.0005), vision (p < 0.0005), and floor condition (p < 0.003). The mean velocity and 95% confidence circle area were 5.7% and 21.8% greater, respectively, in raised COM than in lowered COM (24.6 versus 23.2 mm/s; 1,013.4 versus 832.3 mm2). However, there were no interactions between the COM height and vision condition (p > 0.096), and between the COM height and floor condition (p > 0.183) for all outcome variables. Furthermore, there was no gender difference in all outcome variables (p > 0.186). Conclusion: Balance was affected by the change of COM height induced by a weight belt in human. However, the effect was not affected by vision or floor condition. Our results should inform the design of balance exercise program to improve the outcome of the balance training.

In this study, the failure characteristic of the center floor of a front-wheel drive vehicle was investigated according to material. UHSS, Al6061-T6, CFRP, and CFRP-Al were used as materials. As the analysis condition, a fixed support was applied to the rear surface of the center floor and a forced displacement of 2 mm/sec was applied to the front surface. As the result, when comparing with the equivalent stress and strain energy according to the material, it was found that UHSS, Al6061-T6, CFRP, and CFRP-Al were higher in the order. Also, when comparing with the equivalent strain due to the material, it was shown that the equivalent strain was high in the order of Al6061-T6, UHSS, CFRP and CFRP-Al. As for the damage characteristic of the center floor according to the material, it was found that the highest structural stability was obtained when UHSS was used. However, it was found that it was good to utilize Al6061-T6 in order to acquire the structural stability along with the structure with the lighter weight.