Soft manikin as tool to evaluate bra features and pressure

Abstract

Accurate evaluations of the interface pressure between the bra and skin are critically important prerequisites for the ergonomic design of bra components. Nevertheless, previous analyses on contact pressure have mainly relied on human wear trials with low data repeatability. Determining suitable pressure and tension of shoulder strap and underband to provide adequate breast support has been largely empirical. In this study, a manikin with breast prostheses is designed for bra pressure evaluation. The Novel Pliance-X® pressure system is used to measure the contact pressure induced by the underwire, shoulder straps, underband and different bra cup materials. The results demonstrate that the bra-manikin pressure is increased with a rigid shoulder strap and bra band as well as flexible bra cup material and underwire. The manikin with breast prostheses shows a satisfactory result validated by a subject wear trial, thus providing a more reliable and objective approach for future bra studies.