A dynamic model of the human/clothing/environment-system

Area of Science:

• Thermoregulation research
• Human-environment interaction modeling
• Clothing science

Background:

• Understanding human thermoregulation is crucial for designing protective clothing and optimizing environmental conditions.
• Existing models often lack detailed physiological segmentation or integrated heat and mass transfer through clothing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dynamic model of the human/clothing/environment system.
• To simulate human thermoregulatory responses under various conditions.
• To investigate the interplay between the human body, clothing, and environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• A six-segment human body model (core, muscle, fat, skin layers) was developed.
• Thermoregulatory actions (vasomotor, metabolic, sweat) were simulated based on thermal receptor signals.
• A combined heat and mass transfer model for skin-to-environment through clothing was integrated.
• The model incorporates physiological responses like competition for blood flow and cold-induced vasodilation.

Main Results:

• The model accurately simulates thermoregulation, considering complex physiological interactions.
• Simulations showed compatibility with experimental data across diverse conditions (heat, cold, exercise, transient phases).
• The human/clothing model effectively captures the dynamic system interactions.

Conclusions:

• The developed dynamic model provides a robust tool for analyzing human thermoregulation in various environments.
• The model's validation confirms its reliability for predicting physiological responses.
• Easy application via a user-friendly interface facilitates its use in research and design.