Development of a two-dimensional human thermal model for EVA applications

Abstract

The human thermoregulatory system, with its active and passive components, is difficult to model due to nonlinearities, complex interactions, and a lack of understanding of many of the active thermoregulatory mechanisms. Part of this thesis focuses on the effect of passive system parametric uncertainties on two possible thermal comfort predictors. The effect due to each of the system parameters is quantified using a sensitivity analysis approach involving the equations of a human thermal model, the 41-node man model. A simulation based sensitivity analysis, using the Wissler 1-D model, is also performed to confirm the findings. Results show that both models display highest sensitivity to many of the same parameters. Another part of this thesis gives an overview for a 2-D human thermal model. The human thermal model incorporates 2-dimensional (radial and angular) heat transfer along with arterial and venous countercurrent blood flow. In addition, this thermal model attempts to model the human digits in order to predict toe and fingertip temperatures that are of special interest in regards to the possibility of controlling the thermal comfort of a subject.