Author(s)

H. Raval, Z. W. Guan, M. Bailey & D. G. Covill

Abstract

To design thermally comfortable shoes, the knowledge of thermal conditions inside the shoes and the variables affecting those conditions is necessary. A simplified 3-D thermal numerical model of a shoe has been developed. A new approach was adopted to construct the mesh. The model was developed to consider the dry heat transfer in the shoe and convective heat loss from the outer surface of the shoe. The foot was the source of the heat in the model. Model’s predictions were compared with the results obtained during the experiments. The predicted in-shoe temperatures correlated reasonably well with the measurements although they were higher than the measurements in some cases. Probable reasons behind some inconsistency between predictions and the measured temperatures have been discussed. The paper concludes that the model’s predictions can be improved by incorporating the effect of other variables. Keywords: shoe climate, thermal comfort, thermal model of a shoe. 1 Purpose It is important for the body to maintain its core temperature around 37°C (Bazett [1]). Depending on the environmental conditions and level of physical activity, the thermoregulatory system of the body controls the blood flow and hence heat being supplied to the skin and the periphery of the body to maintain the core temperature (Bazett [1]). Normally, the released heat from foot’s surface can vary from 3W to 30W depending on the activity level at the particular time (Oakley [2]). The body also controls the generation of sweat and the resulting wet heat transfer. Both types of responses can have a significant effect on the heat loss from the body because of large surface area of the feet. If sweat is not

Keywords

shoe climate, thermal comfort, thermal model of a shoe.