Thermal Evaluation of Two Prototype Aircrew Chemical Defense Ensembles.

摘要

Individual aircrew members are protected against chemical warfare environments by the Aircrew Chemical Defense Ensemble (ACDE). The current regulation ACDE (flight suit coverall worn over an activated charcoal undergarment) inhibits dissipation of body heat, resulting in severe physiological limitations on task performance. Several second-generation ACDE prototype designs are undergoing review by the U.S. Air Force Life Support System Program Office. Two of these candidate ACDEs were compared to the current ACDE with respect to thermal stress associated with task performance. The two ACDEs evaluated were: the Gentex Intimate Blend Coverall, and Winfield Monopack Saratoga Coverall. Human subjects were instrumented; they then dressed in the experimental ACDE plus flight safety equipment, and performed scheduled tasks in a climate-controlled chamber at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas. To initiate the experiment, subjects pedaled on an ergometer (50 W) for 10 min, after which they sat in a high-performance aircraft ejection seat and performed minimal physical activities for 1 h; following this seated phase, the subjects again pedaled the ergometer (50W) for 30 min. Heart rates, core (rectal) temperatures, and 5 skin temperatures (chest, back, upper arm, upper leg, and calf) were measured at 30-s intervals throughout the experiment. To measure sweat production and sweat evaporation, the subjects were weighed, both nude and fully dressed. (aw)