A multi-segmented human bioheat model under immersed conditions

Abstract

A multi-segmented human bioheat model was developed to characterize the heat exchange phenomena of the human body while immersed in water and to predict the body's thermoregulation and physiological reactions under immersed conditions. The model is based on the Tanabe model, which divides the human body into 15 segments according to the “Walter” thermal manikin. Each segment is made up of the core layer, muscle layer, fat layer, skin layer and central blood layer. The wet clothing model, which uses empirical equations derived from several underwater manikin experiments, is used in the multi-segmented human bioheat model to represent the mechanism of heat exchange between the human body and the outside world through wet clothing after falling into water. Ten healthy males were chosen for the water immersion experiment and placed in a climatic chamber with simulated falling water. Six different body parts' core temperatures, skin temperatures, and heat flow densities were continually monitored throughout the experiment. By contrasting the experimental results of the water immersion environment with the multi-segmented human bioheat model's predicted outcomes, the accuracy of the model was assessed. The results showed that the values predicted by the model simulation matched the results of the experiments, which indicates that the multi-segmented human bioheat model was reliable, valid, and very useful.