Thermal stress imposed by prototype bilayer and current ground crew chemical defense ensembles: a limited laboratory comparison. Final report, 30 June 1986-1 January 1987

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6790956

Krock, L P; Navalta, R; Myhre, L G

An open bilayer ground-crew chemical defense ensemble (CDE) was proposed to reduce the thermal burden during vapor-only exposure periods. This study compared the thermal-stress profile of the proposed ensemble to that produced by the currently employed closed CDE. Four subjects, alternating ensembles on separate days, walked on a treadmill in an environmental chamber at 5.3 km/h (3.3 mph) and 2% grade (an energy expenditure of 350 kcal/h) for alternating work/rest to achieve significant recovery. Mean total sweat production was lower (1.38 vs. 2.50 liters) and percent sweat evaporation greater (65.7% vs. 30.0%) in the prototype ensemble than in the CDE. The prototype ensemble provided greater heat dissipation and allowed more-efficient sweat evaporation which had the double benefit of reducing heat storage and limiting dehydration.

• Research Organization: School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6790956
• Report Number(s): AD-A-199854/1/XAB; USAFSAM-TR-88-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
BODY TEMPERATURE
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
DEHYDRATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EVAPORATION
HYPERTHERMIA
LABORATORIES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PRODUCTION
PROGRESS REPORT
SHELTERS
STORAGE
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