Quantification of Lower Bounds for Endurance Times in Thermally Insulated Fingersand Toes Exposed to Cold Stress

摘要

The model developed in this study is useful in calculating temperature variationsalong insulated digits and in predicting their endurance times to cold exposures. Calculated results compared very favorably with data obtained on human subjects. The present version of the model does not include the effect of cold induced vasodilation. Expansion of the model to include this important natural mechanism will tend, as a general rule, to predict longer, less conservative endurance times. Thus, predictions based on the present model should be useful whenever conservative, lower bounds of endurance times to cold exposures are required. (TTL)