Prediction of clothing comfort from mechanical and permeability properties of fabrics

In this thesis, principle studies for development of a method including objective and subjective measurements were carried out to determine the thermal comfort performances of fabrics/garment systems.The aim of the study was to determine thermal comfort properties of garment systems by a practical and cheap method. Therefore, a dynamic sweating hotplate system was developed and produced and a thermal manikin system was developed by modifications on an existing device. These systems are accepted as the most advanced devices to measure thermal comfort parameters.Subjective wear trials were conducted with professional sportsmen to test in what extent the objective measurements simulate the real wear conditions by using garments produced from some of the investigated fabric group. Forearm test was carried out on subjects to determine fabric characteristics related to the coolness and dampness sensations occurring during skin-fabric contact. Subjective wear trials were continued with those subjects giving reliable and repeatable results for forearm test. Knitted fabrics having different physical/constructional properties which are used for sportive clothing were investigated within the study. The investigated fabric group consisted of fabrics having special materials or constructions providing advantage about thermal comfort and some basic fabrics.As a result, conclusions were drawn about the relationships between parameters obtained by objective measurement systems and subjective wear trials. Physical/structural and permeability properties of the fabrics were also determined by using standard methods to investigate their effects on thermal comfort.