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Zhang X, Tian M, Li J. Investigating the influencing factors and prediction models of skin burns for firefighters' occupational safety. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2024; 30:663-676. [PMID: 38516740 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2024.2327869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Relevant studies in the fields of fire safety, occupational health and firefighter clothing were analyzed in this study to address the high injury rate among firefighters during fire rescue and the complexity of factors affecting skin burns. The findings indicate that the degree of skin burns in firefighters is primarily influenced by the heat source (heat flux, type), firefighter clothing (fabric, pattern) and the under-clothing air gap (thickness, characteristics). Since skin burns cannot be directly measured, internal skin heat transfer and burn prediction models are commonly employed to assess the impact of external factors on skin burns. These models can predict the safe working distance or time for firefighters. Investigating the influencing factors and prediction models of skin burns among firefighters holds significant value in enhancing operating procedures, optimizing firefighter clothing design and effectively preventing skin burns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Tian
- College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
- Protective Clothing Research Center, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clothing Design and Technology, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
- Protective Clothing Research Center, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clothing Design and Technology, Donghua University, People's Republic of China
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Zhang X, Wang Z, Huang G, Chao X, Ye L, Fan J, Shou D. Soft Robotic Textiles for Adaptive Personal Thermal Management. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309605. [PMID: 38532281 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Thermal protective textiles are crucial for safeguarding individuals, particularly firefighters and steelworkers, against extreme heat, and for preventing burn injuries. However, traditional firefighting gear suffers from statically fixed thermal insulation properties, potentially resulting in overheating and discomfort in moderate conditions, and insufficient protection in extreme fire events. Herein, an innovative soft robotic textile is developed for dynamically adaptive thermal management, providing superior personal protection and thermal comfort across a spectrum of environmental temperatures. This unique textile features a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-sealed actuation system, embedded with a low boiling point fluid for reversible phase transition, resembling an endoskeleton that triggers an expansion within the textile matrix for enhanced air gap and thermal insulation. The thermal resistance improves automatically from 0.23 to 0.48 Km2 W-1 by self-actuating under intense heat, exceeding conventional textiles by maintaining over 10 °C cooler temperatures. Additionally, the knitted substrate incorporated into the soft actuators can substantially mitigate convective heat transfer, as evidenced by the thermal resistance tests and the temperature mapping derived from numerical simulations. Moreover, it boasts significantly increased moisture permeability. The thermoadaptation and breathability of this durable all-fabric system signify considerable progress in the development of protective clothing with high comfort for dynamic and extreme temperature conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Zhang
- Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
| | - Zhaokun Wang
- Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
| | - Guanghan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xujiang Chao
- Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Lin Ye
- School of System Design and Intelligent Manufacturing (SDIM), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jintu Fan
- Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
| | - Dahua Shou
- Future Intelligent Wear Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
- Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, 999077, China
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Durante F, Raparelli T, Beomonte Zobel P. Resistance Feedback of a Ni-Ti Alloy Actuator at Room Temperature in Still Air. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:545. [PMID: 38675356 PMCID: PMC11051945 DOI: 10.3390/mi15040545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
This paper illustrates an experimental activity for the closed-loop position control of an actuator made using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. A solution with the self-sensing effect was implemented to miniaturize the systems, i.e., without external sensors. A proportional control algorithm was initially used, demonstrating the idea's feasibility; the wire can behave simultaneously as an actuator and sensor. An experimental investigation was subsequently conducted for the optimization of the developed actuator. As for the material, a Flexinol wire, Ni-Ti alloy, with a diameter of 0.150 mm and a length of 200 mm, was used. Preliminarily, characterization of the SMA wire at constant and variable loads was carried out; the characteristics detected were elongation vs. electric current and elongation vs. electrical resistance. The control system is PC based with a data acquisition card (DAQ). A drive board was designed and built to read the wire's electrical resistance and power it by pulse width modulation (PWM). A notable result is that the actuator works with good precision and in dynamic conditions, even when it is called to support a load up to 65% different from that for which the electrical resistance-length correlation has previously been experimentally obtained, on which the control is based. This opens up the possibility of using the actuator in a counteracting configuration with a spring, which makes hardware implementation and control management simple.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Durante
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economy (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, P.le Pontieri 1, Località Monteluco, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Terenziano Raparelli
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy;
| | - Pierluigi Beomonte Zobel
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economy (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, P.le Pontieri 1, Località Monteluco, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
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Abstract
The emergence of wearable devices over the recent decades has motivated numerous studies aimed at developing flexible or stretchable materials and structures for their electronic or optoelectronic functionalities. Like in conventional devices, electronic and optoelectronic components in wearable devices must be kept within certain temperature ranges to ensure reliability, performance, and/or functionality. But this must be accomplished without requiring any bulky heat sinks or other heat transfer augmentation elements. At the same time, the proximity of wearable devices to the human skin poses additional requirements of thermal comfort and safety. A growing body of literature is now focusing on the thermal management or control of wearable devices and related development of new materials and structures. The present article aims to provide a broad overview of such materials and structures and offer suggestions for future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Sungtaek Ju
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, UCLA, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1597, USA
- Corresponding author
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Morrissey MC, Casa DJ, Brewer GJ, Adams WM, Hosokawa Y, Benjamin CL, Grundstein AJ, Hostler D, McDermott BP, McQuerry ML, Stearns RL, Filep EM, DeGroot DW, Fulcher J, Flouris AD, Huggins RA, Jacklitsch BL, Jardine JF, Lopez RM, McCarthy RB, Pitisladis Y, Pryor RR, Schlader ZJ, Smith CJ, Smith DL, Spector JT, Vanos JK, Williams WJ, Vargas NT, Yeargin SW. Heat Safety in the Workplace: Modified Delphi Consensus to Establish Strategies and Resources to Protect the US Workers. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2021GH000443. [PMID: 34471788 PMCID: PMC8388206 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this consensus document was to develop feasible, evidence-based occupational heat safety recommendations to protect the US workers that experience heat stress. Heat safety recommendations were created to protect worker health and to avoid productivity losses associated with occupational heat stress. Recommendations were tailored to be utilized by safety managers, industrial hygienists, and the employers who bear responsibility for implementing heat safety plans. An interdisciplinary roundtable comprised of 51 experts was assembled to create a narrative review summarizing current data and gaps in knowledge within eight heat safety topics: (a) heat hygiene, (b) hydration, (c) heat acclimatization, (d) environmental monitoring, (e) physiological monitoring, (f) body cooling, (g) textiles and personal protective gear, and (h) emergency action plan implementation. The consensus-based recommendations for each topic were created using the Delphi method and evaluated based on scientific evidence, feasibility, and clarity. The current document presents 40 occupational heat safety recommendations across all eight topics. Establishing these recommendations will help organizations and employers create effective heat safety plans for their workplaces, address factors that limit the implementation of heat safety best-practices and protect worker health and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret C. Morrissey
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Douglas J. Casa
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Gabrielle J. Brewer
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - William M. Adams
- Department of KinesiologyUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboroNCUSA
| | - Yuri Hosokawa
- Faculty of Sports SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | | | | | - David Hostler
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition SciencesCenter for Research and Education in Special EnvironmentsBuffaloNYUSA
| | - Brendon P. McDermott
- Department of Health, Human Performance and RecreationUniversity of ArkansasFayettevilleARUSA
| | | | - Rebecca L. Stearns
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Erica M. Filep
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - David W. DeGroot
- Fort Benning Heat CenterMartin Army Community HospitalFort BenningGAUSA
| | | | - Andreas D. Flouris
- Department of Exercise ScienceFAME LaboratoryUniversity of ThessalyTrikalaGreece
| | - Robert A. Huggins
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | | | - John F. Jardine
- Department of KinesiologyKorey Stringer InstituteUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Rebecca M. Lopez
- School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation SciencesMorsani College of MedicineUniversity of South FloridaTampaFLUSA
| | | | - Yannis Pitisladis
- Collaborating Centre of Sports MedicineUniversity of BrightonBrightonUK
| | - Riana R. Pryor
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition SciencesCenter for Research and Education in Special EnvironmentsBuffaloNYUSA
| | - Zachary J. Schlader
- Department of KinesiologySchool of Public HealthIndiana UniversityBloomingtonIAUSA
| | - Caroline J. Smith
- Department of Health and Exercise ScienceAppalachian State UniversityBooneNCUSA
| | - Denise L. Smith
- Department of Health and Human Physiological SciencesFirst Responder Health and Safety LaboratorySkidmore CollegeSaratoga SpringsNYUSA
| | - June T. Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | | | - W. Jon Williams
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)PittsburghPAUSA
| | - Nicole T. Vargas
- Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Susan W. Yeargin
- Department of Exercise ScienceArnold School of Public HealthUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSCUSA
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Investigating the Thermal-Protective Performance of Fire-Retardant Fabrics Considering Garment Aperture Structures Exposed to Flames. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13163579. [PMID: 32823632 PMCID: PMC7475976 DOI: 10.3390/ma13163579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The application of fire-retardant fabrics is essential for providing thermal protective function of the garments. Appropriate clothing design are beneficial for preventing the wearers from skin burn injuries and heat strains simultaneously. The intention of this work was to investigate the effects of clothing ventilation designs on its thermal protective performance by bench-scale tests. Four boundary conditions were designed to simulate the garment aperture structures on fabric level. Tests of thermal shrinkage, mass loss and time-to-second-degree-burns were performed with and without air gap under three heat-flux levels for two kinds of inherently fire-retardant fabrics. The impacts of fabric type, heat-flux level, air gap and boundary condition were analyzed. The presence of a 6.4-mm air gap could improve thermal protective performance of the fabrics, however, the garment openings would decrease this positive effects. More severe thermal aging found for spaced test configuration indicated the importance of balancing the service life and thermal protective performance of the clothing. The findings of this study implied that the characteristics of fabric type, air gap, boundary condition, and their effects on fabric thermal aging should be considered during clothing ventilation designs, to balance the thermal protection and comfort of the protective gear.
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Rogale D, Majstorović G, Firšt Rogale S. Comparative Analysis of the Thermal Insulation of Multi-Layer Thermal Inserts in a Protective Jacket. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13122672. [PMID: 32545431 PMCID: PMC7344582 DOI: 10.3390/ma13122672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents the measurement results of the thermal insulation of the outer shell, thermal inserts, and clothing systems, as well as a comparative analysis of the thermal insulation of multi-layer thermal inserts in a thermal jacket intended for professional services in cold weather. Detachable thermal inserts are made of double-faced, diamond-shaped quilted lining with different masses per unit area, and together with the jacket, they form clothing systems with different thermal properties. Tests of the thermal properties of clothing were performed on a thermal manikin. They showed that an increase in the mass of thermal insulation textile materials contributes to an increase in the thermal insulation properties of clothing and are insufficient for a complete analysis of the thermal properties of clothing. Therefore, for the first time, three new parameters of integration efficiency of the thermal insert, thermal insulation efficiency parameters, and efficiency parameters of the integration of the textile material integrated into the clothing system were introduced. Based on these parameters, it is possible to perform an effective and accurate comparative analysis of the thermal insulation of multi-layer thermal inserts in clothing. This makes it possible to apply exact scientific methods largely in the technical design of the thermal properties of integrated textile materials, instead of experience-based methods as in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dubravko Rogale
- Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | | | - Snježana Firšt Rogale
- Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence:
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Development of Smart Textile Materials with Shape Memory Alloys for Application in Protective Clothing. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13030689. [PMID: 32033045 PMCID: PMC7040812 DOI: 10.3390/ma13030689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The latest directions of research on the design of protective clothing concern the implementation of smart materials, in order to increase its protective performance. This paper presents results on the resistance to thermal factors such as flames, radiant heat, and molten metals, which were obtained for the developed smart textile material with shape memory alloys (SMAs). The laboratory tests performed indicated that the application of the designed SMA elements in the selected textile material system caused more than a twofold increase in the resistance to radiant heat (RHTI24 = 224 s) with an increase of thickness of 13 mm (sample located vertically with a load), while in the case of tests on the resistance to flames, it was equal to 41 mm (sample located vertically without a load) and in the case of tests on the resistance to molten metal, it was 17 mm (sample located horizontally).
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