Effects of wind direction on sportswear thermal insulation with various ease allowance
International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology
ISSN: 0955-6222
Article publication date: 1 August 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of wind direction and ease allowance on thermal comfort in sportswear.
Design/methodology/approach
The effects of wind direction (front, side, back and calm (no wind) 1.5 m/s) and seven magnitudes of ease allowance on sportswear thermal insulation and surface temperature were investigated. An 11 zones’ thermal manikin was used to acquire the static thermal insulation. Surface temperature was captured by a thermal imager.
Findings
The results showed that the wind was a significant effect on thermal performance, however, wind direction effect was only significant in the segment covered with multilayer fabric, such as the abdomen and hip (p=0.034). Although the ease allowance influenced the overall thermal insulation obviously, the difference between seven sizes suits was not significant. Nevertheless, the ease allowance affected the surface temperature of chest and back significantly (p=0.023, 0.007). Correlation between thermal insulation and surface temperature was negative, and correlation level was degraded when affected by wind factor.
Research limitations/implications
Sportswear’s fabric and style did not discussed as effect factors. It would be taken into accounted in the future research.
Originality/value
Wind direction impact thermal comfort in multilayer regions significantly. It is a reference to improve sportswear’s comfort design.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the National Nature Science Foundation (Grant No. 51576038), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 15D110735/36), and the Open Funding Project of National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering (Grant No. SYFD150051812K).
Citation
Hu, S., Zhao, M. and Li, J. (2016), "Effects of wind direction on sportswear thermal insulation with various ease allowance", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 492-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-11-2015-0126
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited