Parameterization of Temperature Perception of Ventilation Changes in Full-face Motorcycle Helmets

INTRODUCTION Temperature perception and thermal comfort of headgear have most often been studied with thermal manikin headforms. An underlying assumption of these measurements is that of a direct relationship between thermal perception of subjects and a measure obtained from such headforms (e.g. heat loss, temperature, heat flux, or airflow). Several studies found that in warm environments the categorization of headgear based on manikin headform measurements is comparable to the categorization based on temperature perception or thermal comfort by human subjects [1-4], supporting this assumption. A clear understanding of the sensitivity of subjects to heat transfer fluctuations has yet to be achieved. This study aimed to evaluate which parameters related to air flow and heat transfer predict the response behavior of subjects while operating the ventilation system of motorcycle helmets, focusing on the scalp section.