Physiological Evaluation of A1 (Extreme-Cold-Weather) and A2 (Buoyant, Intermediate-Cold-Weather) Jackets.

摘要

The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) physiologically evaluated the Navy's cold-weather clothing by exposing subjects wearing either the A1 (Extreme-Cold-Weather) clothing ensemble or the A2 (Buoyant, Intermediate Cold-Weather) clothing ensemble to various environmental temperatures. The environmental temperatures in which the clothing was tested included: 5 deg F (-15 deg C), -10 deg F (-23.3 deg C), -30 deg F (-34.4 deg C), and -40 deg F (-40 deg C) for evaluation of the A1 ensemble; and 39 deg F (3.9 deg C), 20 deg F (-6.7 deg C), 0 deg F (-17.8 deg C) and -10 deg F (-23.3 deg C) for evaluation of the A2 ensemble. An additional exposure to -40 deg F was undertaken to compare responses with the Army Arctic gear, and an exposure to 70 deg F (21.1 deg C) while standard Navy utility clothing was worn served as a control. Exposures were 3 hours in duration, the first hour of which the subject sat quietly, followed by 1 hour of exercise at 3.5 mph, and again 1 hour of rest. Based on mean skin temperature responses, the results indicate that none of the test garments would keep an inactive person warm for prolonged periods of time (>4.0 hours). Cold-Weather clothing; Bouyant, Cold-Weather clothing; Physiological testing; Clothing insulation values; Military protective clothing.