ISSN:
1741-0444
Keywords:
Heat transfer
;
Skin
;
Subcutaneous tissues
;
Unsteady state
;
Water migration
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract An analytical model is developed to predict temperature variations in regional skin and subcutaneous tissues and the resulting heat and water losses in response to the changing environments. Consideration is given to heat conduction, molecular diffusion of water, capillary blood circulation, metabolic heat and water production, insensible perspiration, sweat secretion, and heat and water exchange with the environment through convection, radiation and evaporation. The resulting skin temperature and heat and water losses in the new environment are in good agreement with previous findings in the steady state. The effect of temperature change ΔT, the difference in final and initial temperatures, and relative humidity on time required to reach a new steady state are also studied. The time required to reach a new steady state increases sharply at small ΔT and then tapers off as ΔT increases. A relative humidity of 40% is found most desirable for human body to adjust to the new environment.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02443815
Permalink
