| The dynamic thermal properties of clothing ensembles are important to thermal transient comfort, but have so far not been properly quantified. In this thesis, firstly a new transient thermal model, integrating the dynamic heat and moisture transfer through clothing as well as the two-node human physiological model, is proposed to predict the human physiological responses. The model considered clothing ventilation and moisture accumulation on the surface of the skin and inner surface of the underwear. The numerical results of the model are validated with a set of previously published experimental data and another set of data obtained from current experimental investigation. Very good agreement was found. The model has also been applied to better understand the complex interaction of the various human, clothing and environmental factors and their effects on the human thermal physiological response.;Secondly, a novel test procedure and new index based on measurements on the sweating fabric manikin-Walter are proposed to quantify and measure the dynamic thermal properties of clothing ensembles. Experiments showed that the new index is correlated to the changing rate of the body temperature of the wearer, which is an important indicator of thermal transient comfort. Clothing ensembles having higher values of the index means the wearer will have faster changing rate of body temperature and shorter duration before approaching a dangerous thermo-physiological state, when he changes from "resting" to "exercising" mode. Clothing should therefore be designed to reduce the value of the index. |
