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Validation of a model for prediction of skin temperatures in footwear

Kuklane, Kalev LU ; Holmér, Ingvar LU and Havenith, George (2000) In Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science 19(1). p.29-34
Abstract
A model for foot skin temperature prediction was evaluated on the basis of 2 experiments on subjects at various environmental temperatures (light seated manual work at -10.7 °C (Study 1), and a short walking period in combination with standing and sitting at +2.8 °C, -11.8 °C and -24.6 °C (Study 2), with boots of 3 insulation levels. Insulation of the footwear was measured on a thermal foot model. Predicted and measured data showed a relatively good correlation (r=0.87) at the 2 colder conditions in Study 2. The environmental temperature of 2.8 °C was not low enough at the chosen activity for a considerable foot skin temperature drop. In Study 1 the predicted temperature stayed higher for the whole exposure period and the difference... (More)
A model for foot skin temperature prediction was evaluated on the basis of 2 experiments on subjects at various environmental temperatures (light seated manual work at -10.7 °C (Study 1), and a short walking period in combination with standing and sitting at +2.8 °C, -11.8 °C and -24.6 °C (Study 2), with boots of 3 insulation levels. Insulation of the footwear was measured on a thermal foot model. Predicted and measured data showed a relatively good correlation (r=0.87) at the 2 colder conditions in Study 2. The environmental temperature of 2.8 °C was not low enough at the chosen activity for a considerable foot skin temperature drop. In Study 1 the predicted temperature stayed higher for the whole exposure period and the difference between the predicted and the measured foot skin temperatures grew proportionally with time, while subsequent warm-up curves at room temperature were almost parallel. In Study 1 the correlation was 0.95. However, the paired t-test showed usually significant differences between measured and predicted foot skin temperatures.

The insulation values from thermal foot measurements can be used in the model calculations. Lotens’ foot model is lacking activity as direct input parameter, however, the blood flow is used instead (effect through Tcore). The Lotens foot model can give reasonable foot skin temperature values if the model limitations are considered. Due to the lack of activity level input, it will be difficult to make any good estimation of foot skin temperature during intermittent exercise, too. The rate of the foot temperature recovery after cold exposure was somewhat overestimated in the model - the warm-up of the feet of the subjects started later and was slower in the beginning of the warm-up than in the prediction. It could be useful to develop the model further by taking into consideration various wetness and activity levels. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
thermal insulation, skin temperature prediction, footwear, thermal foot model, Lotens’ foot model
in
Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science
volume
19
issue
1
pages
29 - 34
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:0033655067
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
56693747-1012-4407-9360-80923d9050cf (old id 634480)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 14:30:30
date last changed
2022-04-24 06:08:32
@article{56693747-1012-4407-9360-80923d9050cf,
  abstract     = {{A model for foot skin temperature prediction was evaluated on the basis of 2 experiments on subjects at various environmental temperatures (light seated manual work at -10.7 °C (Study 1), and a short walking period in combination with standing and sitting at +2.8 °C, -11.8 °C and -24.6 °C (Study 2), with boots of 3 insulation levels. Insulation of the footwear was measured on a thermal foot model. Predicted and measured data showed a relatively good correlation (r=0.87) at the 2 colder conditions in Study 2. The environmental temperature of 2.8 °C was not low enough at the chosen activity for a considerable foot skin temperature drop. In Study 1 the predicted temperature stayed higher for the whole exposure period and the difference between the predicted and the measured foot skin temperatures grew proportionally with time, while subsequent warm-up curves at room temperature were almost parallel. In Study 1 the correlation was 0.95. However, the paired t-test showed usually significant differences between measured and predicted foot skin temperatures.<br/><br>
The insulation values from thermal foot measurements can be used in the model calculations. Lotens’ foot model is lacking activity as direct input parameter, however, the blood flow is used instead (effect through Tcore). The Lotens foot model can give reasonable foot skin temperature values if the model limitations are considered. Due to the lack of activity level input, it will be difficult to make any good estimation of foot skin temperature during intermittent exercise, too. The rate of the foot temperature recovery after cold exposure was somewhat overestimated in the model - the warm-up of the feet of the subjects started later and was slower in the beginning of the warm-up than in the prediction. It could be useful to develop the model further by taking into consideration various wetness and activity levels.}},
  author       = {{Kuklane, Kalev and Holmér, Ingvar and Havenith, George}},
  keywords     = {{thermal insulation; skin temperature prediction; footwear; thermal foot model; Lotens’ foot model}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{29--34}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science}},
  title        = {{Validation of a model for prediction of skin temperatures in footwear}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}