Evaluation of clothing thermal comfort using a perspiring fabric thermal manikin

Abstract

Thermal manikins are very useful tools for the objective evaluation of clothing thermal comfort. Although several manikins have been developed and in use since 1970s, most of these cannot simulate human perspiration adequately. The development of perspiring manikins is still a challenge to many scientists and engineers. The paper reports on a perspiring thermal fabric manikin developed in the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The manikin uses water circulation to simulate the human body’s blood circulation to simulate the temperature distribution. The manikin is covered with a breathable fabric as the skin, thus simulating the gaseous perspiration.