Localized Thermal Analysis for Sportswear via Wind Tunnel Testing

Xiaoyi Cai, Zixiang Hu, Peng Zhou

2025

Abstract

Thermal comfort of sportswear is critical for optimizing athletic performance and improving safety. However, current research on the convective heat transfer coefficient (h) between fabrics and the air flow remains limited, especially in terms of its local analysis. In this study, a thermal cylinder which simulates human limb was developed to evaluate the fabrics' thermal insulation (It) and h (both local and global values) in the wind tunnel. The wind speed ranged from 2 to 8 m/s, and the stretch ratio (SR) from 1.1 to 2.0. The results show that for both fabrics, the local h reaches a minimum around θ = 80°–90°, while the local It peaks near θ = 120°. The effects of SR and wind speed on It and h are also reported. This work offers a practical method for quantifying the heat transfer characteristics of stretched fabrics, providing theoretical guidance for sportswear design and thermal regulation strategies in wind environment.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Cai X., Hu Z. and Zhou P. (2025). Localized Thermal Analysis for Sportswear via Wind Tunnel Testing. In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS; ISBN 978-989-758-771-9, SciTePress, pages 69-78. DOI: 10.5220/0013689400003988

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsports25,
author={Xiaoyi Cai and Zixiang Hu and Peng Zhou},
title={Localized Thermal Analysis for Sportswear via Wind Tunnel Testing},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS},
year={2025},
pages={69-78},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013689400003988},
isbn={978-989-758-771-9},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS
TI - Localized Thermal Analysis for Sportswear via Wind Tunnel Testing
SN - 978-989-758-771-9
AU - Cai X.
AU - Hu Z.
AU - Zhou P.
PY - 2025
SP - 69
EP - 78
DO - 10.5220/0013689400003988
PB - SciTePress