Effect of properties of sports surface and clothing materials on human thermal load under hot environment

The physiological reaction and mental action of a human body was observed for four different sports surfaces and for clothing of six different colours during exercise to gain a better understanding of human thermal conditions outdoors. The radiative properties of each surface and clothing were determined before the experiments; thus, human thermal load including environmental conditions was calculated. Different radiation properties were quantitatively determined to affect human thermal load; in addition, one type of functional sportswear prototype for reducing thermal load by property modification was evaluated. Subjective results indicate that for future clothing design, other thermal properties have to be considered along with the radiative properties.