Computational Modeling of Protective Clothing

Abstract

Models based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have been developed to predict the performance of chemical and steam/fire protective clothing. The software computes the diffusive and convective transport of heat and gases/vapors; capillary transport of liquids; vapor and liquid sorption phenomena and phase change; and the variable properties of the various clothing layers. It can also model the effects of sweating and humidity transport to help assess the thermal stress imposed on the wearer of the clothing. Specialized geometry/grid representations of clothed humans have been created for performing two- and three-dimensional simulations. Comparisons with experimental data show good agreement in predicting the effects of fiber swell due to transients in humidity, and the models have been used to predict the sensitivity of clothing performance to material properties such as permeability under varying environmental conditions. Applications of the models include analysis of chemical protective garment design for military and emergency response personnel, comparisons of thermally protective materials for steam or fire protection, and evaluation of clothing test data.