Designing suitable shoes to prevent foot frostbite through optimization of the geometric dimensions of the shoe and sock model

Abstract

To prevent frostbite in cold environments, proper dimensions and materials for different parts of shoes along with the optimal design of shoe geometry were investigated. Furthermore, the optimal geometry of shoes was computed using an optimization algorithm to provide maximum thermal protection for the foot while having the lowest weight. The results showed that the length of the shoe sole and the thickness of the sock are the most effective parameters in foot protection against frostbite. Using thicker socks, which only increased the weight by roughly 11%, enhanced the minimum foot temperature by more than 2.3 times. HIGHLIGHTS Optimal design of shoe geometry is used to prevent frostbite in cold environments. A model of a biothermal nonlinear model is developed for the barefoot. Length of the shoe sole and the thickness of the sock are the most effective parameters in protecting the foot against frostbite. For the selected weather conditions, the toes are most likely to have frostbite. The best shoe for the selected weather conditions is the shoe that has the highest amount of thermal insulation in the toe area.