A validation study on the thermal simulation of the human body-clothing-environment system through wear trials

Muhammad Awais,Bianca-Michaela Wölfling,Edith Classen,Sybille Krzywinski

doi:10.1177/15589250211041361

Muhammad Awais, Bianca-Michaela Wölfling + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/15589250211041361

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Abstract

The following analysis deals with the validation study for the already published thermal simulation of the human body-clothing-environment system through wear trials. Three test persons and a clothing system were selected for this study. The simulation process chain includes 3D scanning, clothing fit considering the deformation properties of fabrics, 3D analysis of air gaps between skin and clothing, and thermophysiological analysis of the human body taking into account different metabolic rates. Moreover, subjective wear trials were performed in a climatic chamber to validate the simulation results. The results show good validation for the core body and mean skin temperature, however, discrepancies were observed on comparing the local skin temperatures. The presented simulation approach offers a holistic solution for product development in the areas of sportswear, workwear, outdoor, and protective clothing.

Highlights

Thermophysiological responses; mean skin and body core temperatures are the key factors that describe the thermal comfort of the human body.[1]
Since the outside temperature is lower than the body temperature, mean skin and body core temperature begin to fall with the start of simulation
As soon as the fourth phase sets in, a steady rise in core body temperature can be noticed throughout the phase, which is caused by the higher metabolic rate

Summary

Introduction

Thermophysiological responses; mean skin and body core temperatures are the key factors that describe the thermal comfort of the human body.[1] These factors can be influenced by human body interaction with a consistently changing environment, which causes heat exchanges between them. Human body maintains its critical core temperature within a limited range of 37 ± 0.5°C.2. In this situation, clothing plays an important role by providing the required barrier between the body and the environment. The thermal properties of clothing are responsible for heat and moisture transfer from the clothing, whereas, the deforming properties direct the development of different shapes of air gaps between the body and clothing. In order to examine the thermophysiological wear comfort of any garment, laborious empirical method “wear trials” are usually performed in a climatic chamber under controlled climate

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Conclusion