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Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Moisture Movement in Clothing

Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering Kobe University, Rokkodaicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan

S. Hokoi

Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Kyotodaigakukatsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8540 Japan, satoruta{at}kobe-u.ac.jp

M.K. Kumaran

Building Envelope and Structure, National Research Council Institute for Research in Construction, Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6 Canada

In order to design an efficient air-conditioning system, the specifics of the transient thermal and physiological responses of a human body to the hygrothermal environment should be taken into account. This response will strongly depend on the behavior of heat and moisture transport, and moisture accumulation in the clothing, especially when sweat exists in and around the clothing. As a basic information on this problem, a model of the moisture transfer in cloth is necessary. In this article, a model of the liquid moisture movement in clothing under gravity is developed and applied, based on a diffusion model. Firstly, the moisture diffusivity is determined from the investigation of the moisture absorption process in the horizontal direction where gravity has no influence on the moisture movement. Secondly with the use of the moisture diffusivity thus determined, a moisture absorption process in the upward direction against gravity is investigated. The validity of the parameter related to the gravity effect is examined by comparing the results of numerical calculations with the experimental results obtained from the gamma-ray method. Since the two agree generally well, the parameters namely liquid moisture diffusivity and sorption isotherm derived here for a sample of broadcloth are considered reliable.

Key Words: moisture movement • clothing • diffusion • gravity • gamma-ray • measurement • numerical model.

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Journal of Building Physics, Vol. 31, No. 2, 125-142 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1744259107081648


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Takada, S. Articles by Kumaran, M.K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?