Calculations of Combined Heat and Vapour Transport through Clothing Systems: Application to Water-Vapour-Permeable Rainwear.

A numerical model has been developed to calculate the combined heat and vapour flow, at steady state, through multilayer clothing systems including heat transfer by radiation and the condensation of water vapour within the clothing system. The model has been applied to a comparison of the heat stress and water accumulation expected in rainwear made of completely impermeable material and of a water-vapour-permeable laminate, when the wearer works hard enough to promote sweating. The results indicate significant advantages can expected from the permeable rainsuit. Author