  |
Publication AbstractsFlight coverall microclimate evalution using a Japanese type sweating mannequin.Kurihara K, Miyamoto YAviat Space Environ Med 1998; 69:11747. AbstractBackground: It is important to examine the microclimate of a pilot's clothing to evaluate the heat stress the clothing imparts on a pilot. Problems arise with regard to individual variation (phenotype of the pilot, sweating dose, wear condition of the flight coveralls, etc.). Hypothesis: The present study used a Japanese type sweating mannequin (TOM-111) to evaluate the microclimate of flight coveralls. Methods:TOM III -(TOYOBO, Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) has a characteristic Japanese body type, and the sweat rate and body temperature can be regulated (240 g of sweat per hour, 36.0°C). The microclimate of the clothing was evaluated by means of 20 temperature/humidity sensors located on the surface of the mannequin skin. TOM-111 wore four different assemblies of clothing (CWU-66/P USAF chemical defense flight coverall; JAS summer-type flight coverall which is similar to the nonchemical defense USAF flight coverall; ordinary 100% cotton underwear; and CWU-66/P with cotton underwear). We put TOM-111 in climatic chamber (21.2 ± 0.5 73°C, 50.0 ± 3.0% relative humidity (RH), 0.1 m air flow·s-1 dressed in test clothing, and measured the inside temperature (IT) and inside relative humidity (IRH) of the clothing for 60 min (10 min non-sweating, 30 min sweating and 20 min non-sweating). Results: Approximately 5 min after the onset of sweating, the IRH of the CWU-66/P (38.0%) was lower than JASDF flight coverall (42.1 %; p < 0.01). At the end of the sweating period, the IRH of the CWU-66/P and the JASDF flight coverall were 46.2% and 52.6%, respectively (p < 0.01). Th results indicated that the CWU-66/P flight coverall was better suited for heat stress than the JASDF summer-type flight coverall. Conclusions: TOM-111 may be useful for microclimate evaluation and/or the development of clothing without considering individual variation against various climatic conditions.
Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 69, Number 12 of the ASEM journal.
|
 |
 |