A Computer Simulation for Predicting the Time Course of Thermal and Cardiovascular Responses to Various Combinations of Heat Stress, Clothing and Exercise
Abstract
This report describes a new computer simulation of human temperature regulation for predicting limiting physiological responses to work under heat stress. Possible military applications include adjustment of work: rest cycles during intermittent work in protective clothing or confined spaces and determining optimal recovery periods and environments following exercise and/or exposure to hot environments. Using data bases from 7 independent studies of widely varying workload and environment, the simulation was validated by comparing the standard deviations (sd) of variable means (internal temperature, skin temperature and heart rate) in the data sets with the root mean squared deviations (rmsd) between the variable means and the corresponding simulator outputs. Results suggest that, on the average and within the range of data tested, the present simulation is able to forecast results with the same order of precision as laboratory studies of the same problems. Future applications could include incorporation into on-line expert systems used as tactical decision aids and as a tool to aid the experimental design of studies on the competing stresses of work, heat, dehydration, sleep deprivation and chemical protective drugs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA240023
Entities
People
- Kenneth K. Kraning Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine